New Zealand midfielder Tim Brown will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair his right shoulder after fracturing it during Monday's 2-1 friendly loss to Australia in Melbourne.

The 29-year-old suffered the injury in a challenge with Vince Grella, who was lucky to still be on the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after a crude two-footed tackle left Leo Bertos writhing in agony on the turf with a gashed leg.

"I'm trying to be real positive about that at the moment," he told reporters on his return to New Zealand.