Veteran Styris filling in for rising star

Replacing youth with experience may be the answer for Northern Districts as they begin their 2010-11 Plunket Shield defence tomorrow against Otago.
The absence of 20-year-old all-rounder Kane Williamson - who scored a century in his test debut for the Black Caps against India, and who has averaged 47.25 with the bat after two seasons in the Plunket Shield - has been filled by Scott Styris.
Styris returns to the team he started his first-class career after a spell of five years playing for Auckland and being one of the ND squad's four Northland players, Joey Yovich, said his return will cover the gap left by Williamson.
"I think you could look at Scotty as a straight replacement, obviously he doesn't bowl spin, but he does give you a seaming option as well as being a top middle-order batsman so we are lucky to get him back and I think with his experience and skill, he'll slot in very nicely," Yovich said.
The 35-year-old Styris will slot in at number four or five in the batting line-up and Yovich said the team is experienced enough already not to let the loss of one player affect them much.
"Kane had a great season last year but he started very slowly, in fact he struggled early on and yet we still managed to get plenty of points to be able to set up our season well," he said.
Styris will miss the opening day of the season because he is captaining New Zealand at the Hong Kong Sixes. He will be covered by Hamilton's Keir Bettley on the first day of the four-day match before joining the match on the second day.
Yovich said the team's high level of fitness gave them a jump on the competition last season and they want to repeat their start again this season.
"We're probably one of the fittest sports teams in the country at the moment, by the look of the tests and the way that Jason Weedon has worked with the guys and hopefully that means no injuries and being able to pick consistent teams," he said.
Regular wicket-keeper, Peter McGlashan, is still recovering from a broken finger, with 19-year-old Owen Ivins named to replace him behind the stumps after good performances in inter-squad matches during the Knights' spring training.
The cricketers arrived in a sun-drenched Queenstown on Saturday and hope the spring weather will allow them to push for maximum points.
"Playing in the South Island at this time of the year means there is an increased chance of rain affected games but we're hoping for four good days to give us the chance of another good start," he said.
Yovich isn't taking Otago lightly despite their 10-wicket win in the corresponding fixture last season in Dunedin.
"Otago are an experienced side both with the bat and ball so we've got our work cut out for us but we've prepared well and we think we're ready," he said.
The Knights: James Marshall (C), Michael Parlane, Brad Wilson, Joseph Yovich (Northland), Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Daniel Flynn (Bay of Plenty), Anton Devcich, Owen Ivins (Hamilton), Scott Styris, Bradley Scott (Waikato Valley).