Former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Smith has urged Black Caps to unleash their pace battery in the first Test against Australia at Perth, starting December 12.

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Smith wants speedster Lockie Ferguson to make his Test debut in the series opener and also suggested the tourists to go with four quicks.

Apart from Ferguson, the Kiwis have Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Matt Henry at their disposal as pacers for the three-match Test series down under.

"I believe he [Lockie Ferguson] should play," Smith quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"He's an element of the unknown. They've all seen him do very well in the World Cup but you can't coach 145-150kph from time to time and if it's very accurate it's very often hard to play and commands respect.

"The reason I would have him is it's all very well for the ball to swing and seam around initially but at 135kph when it stops doing that, how are you looking?

"That's bit of a problem from New Zealand's point of view. I'd have him in the side."

Drafting Ferguson into New Zealand's bowling attack is no easy task if seasoned campaigner Boult regains his full fitness from a side strain. The pace troika of Boult, Southee and Wagner have played an instrumental role in Black Caps’ rise to No.2 spot on the ICC Test team rankings

Considering the extra bounce in Perth and add to it the threat of pink-ball, Smith has entertained the thought of dropping left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner for Ferguson in a four-prong pace attack.

"What I would think about here (Perth Stadium), knowing it hasn’t had a massive history of Test cricket or spin, I might even think about playing four (fast bowlers) and just going at Australia and saying, 'You against us, us against you, fight fire with fire'," he said.

"But got to find room for (Ferguson)."

However, if New Zealand feel the need to play a spinner, Tim Southee could make way for Ferguson as the former averages 50.68 with the ball in seven Tests in Australia.

"It's a difficult call, it's one they have to consider because if it's a one-for-one and you keep Santner in probably Southee is the one they're looking at," Ian Smith remarked.

"But I'll bring in the pink ball to that. Red ball, bright sunny day late in the afternoon I'm with you (dropping Southee), but I just worry that late in the afternoon the pink ball kicks in all night and Southee over the years has been one of the best seam/swing bowlers that we've had and that is an asset we might just need at this particular venue."

(Inputs from cricket.com.au)