BRISBANE: Usman Khawaja's magnificent 174 helped Australia to a dominant 556 for four declared and an imposing lead of 399 at the end of the second day of the first test against New Zealand on Friday.

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Australia's pace attack, with Mitchell Johnson to the fore, fired up with a lethal 20-minute spell in the final session to reduce the tourists to 157-5 at the close of play.

Only Kane Williamson, who finished the day unbeaten on 55 alongside BJ Watling (14 not out), looked like offering any more than token resistance to the Australian onslaught.

What already looked like a huge task to save the first of three tests in the series for the tourists became even harder after paceman Tim Southee left the field with a back injury before lunch.

While the potent strike partnership of Southee and Boult was behind much of New Zealand's confidence heading into the series, the hosts' pace attack showed on Friday why many in Australia were confident they would survive a string of retirements.