Tendulkar, who retired hurt after belting a stunning 163 in the third ODI, underwent an MRI scan at a local hospital in Christchurch.

Although the team management did not divulge the scan result, it is learnt that the extent of damage in his abdomen was not as bad it had been feared to be.

But a final call on his availability for the match is expected to be taken tomorrow after the practice session. Some of Tendulkar's teammates indicated that he may play the match but there was no official word from the team management yet.

The Mumbaikar, who has scored a record 43 one-day hundreds, is said to be a lot more comfortable than he had been on Sunday night.

The 36-year-old batsman has been among the runs in all the three ODIs played so far, bettering his 20 at Napier with a 61 in the rained-out match at Wellington.

Interestingly, while Tendulkar and team doctor Nitin Patel were at the hospital, the rest of the team had a day out in the hills adjoining Christchurch.

They went for a mountain drive, rollicking up and down the bumpy slopes in six-wheeled vehicles. Later, they had a swell time, speed jetting at the Waima waters.