Blaze fired up to win matches

Wellington Blaze skipper Megan Wakefield has flagged any dreams she ever had of making the White Ferns team.

"I'm too old now," the 29-year-old insurance quality analyst said from the capital city yesterday before the final round of the women's domestic Action Twenty/20 and Action Cup competition against the Central Districts Hinds at Palmerston North.

But that doesn't mean Wakefield and her troops will be treading on egg shells at Fitzherbert Park for the T20 today and Monday and the 50-over match tomorrow.

"We need to win both games," she said, before adding the limited-overs clash was equally vital if they are to elbow the Auckland Hearts out of the way to make the play-offs in both versions of the game.

Ideally, the Blaze, who are sitting six points below the second-placed Aucklanders on 24 points, need to win both their T20s but also have to push for a superior run rate in the absence of bonus points, while the undefeated defending champions Canterbury Magicians are setting the pace with 30 points.

In the cup clash tomorrow, the Blaze are just a point behind runners-up Hearts but flogging last-placed CD will boost their chances.

Wakefield rued losing games they should have won against Canterbury and Auckland but is mindful even the rain won't help their cause, although she has refrained from sending any incentives to the Northern Districts Spirit to beat Auckland.

"We've made it hard for ourselves."

Wakefield said Palmerston North had not been too kind to the Blaze over the summers but she had her fingers crossed rain won't stymie their hopes.

Hinds coach Mike Shrimpton said his women were ready for the challenge.

"We've held together quite well. My girls have held their heads up high and have turned up the day after so that's very pleasing," Shrimpton said of a side that has an equal number of young, inexperienced players but want to finish the season on a high note.

Batsman Michele Frey has dropped out of the 13 playing squad while Manawatu's Briar Cloake returns from a pre-planned holiday over Christmas and New Year.

"Michele's out for personal reasons so Briar comes in for 12th man duties," he said.

Veteran bowler Abby Burrows, who claimed her 100th limited-overs wicket in Dunedin this week, will play in the T20s but won't be available for the one-dayer tomorrow because she's attending a wedding.

Central Districts Hinds: Kate Broadmore, Abby Burrows, Briar Cloake, Sandee Hui, Esther Lanser, Holly Macdonald, Sara McGlashan, Rachel Priest (c), Eimear Richardson, Hannah Rowe, Maneka Singh, Kerry Tomlinson.

Coach: Mike Shrimpton.

Wellington Blaze: Michelle Bunkall, Madeleine Chapman, Deanna Docherty, Lucy Doolan, Allex Evans, Melinda Hodgson, Suzie McDonald, Renee Moffitt, Thamsyn Newton, Elizabeth Perry, Sian Ruck, Andrea Stockwell, Sarah Taylor, Megan Wakefield (c).

Coach: Leigh Kelly.