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Australian vice-captain Travis Head's crucial Test century came in vastly different circumstances to his maiden ton back in February.

Despite talk he could be dropped from Australia's Boxing Day team, Travis Head blocked out the noise and crafted a second Test century.

The South Australian's fighting 114 on Friday ensured the hosts verged into an unlosable position after day two of the second Test against New Zealand at the MCG.

Just 48 hours earlier, the vice-captain's place in the XI was under threat leading into the blockbuster trans-Tasman encounter.

Australia was considering playing five bowlers in a bid to combat a flat pitch, which would have meant Queensland paceman Michael Neser coming into the side for Head.

It would have been a cruel blow for the 26-year-old, who was dropped for Australia's fifth Ashes Test against England in September.

But Head said coach Justin Langer kept him in the loop about the team's intentions and never really doubted his spot in the team.

"I had a good sense that I was playing and didn't read too much into it," Head said after stumps.

"At the end of the day, if that's where selection lies, I've just got to prepare as best as I can to play a Test match.

"I don't take that into account too much."

An emotional Head let out a scream as he reached three figures just after the tea break with a four down to third man.

The 26-year-old's second Test ton came in vastly different circumstances to his first back in February.

Head's breakthrough 161 was achieved against a second-string Sri Lankan bowling attack at Australia's smallest Test venue, Canberra's Manuka Oval.

But the left-hander was made to work hard during this innings in front of a lively MCG crowd as Kiwi quick Neil Wagner continued with his short-pitch bowling barrage.

"(New Zealand) had some really good plans to tie me down," Head said.

"Credit to New Zealand, at times it was difficult, they stemmed the scoreboard."

Head is Australia's only top-six survivor from last year's Boxing Day Test defeat to India.

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh are no longer in the team from last December, but Head remains.

This innings took Head's average to 43.87 part way through his 16th Test.

By reaching a century, he became the first South Australian-born player since Andrew Hilditch in 1984 to score a Test ton at the MCG.