Wairarapa selector Mark Brown is optimistic of a bold showing from his side in their limited-overs representative cricket match with Hawkes Bay at Onga Onga on Sunday.
Past results between the two provinces suggest Hawkes Bay will start hot favourites to take the spoils and with it a place inthe Chapple Cup section of the regional tournament to be played the following weekend, but Brown believes there is scope for a Wairarapa upset.
"Obviously we've had very little preparation which makes it hard to judge the form of the players but, potentially, we have a squad capable of pulling this one off," he said.
The big news for Wairarapa is the return of four players with proven representative form - Greg Todd, Dean Van Deventer, Mark Childs and Henry Cameron.
Todd, who will captain Wairarapa, has played at first-class level for Otago and Auckland and is contracted to Central Districts for 2011-12. He is an allrounder who will probably bat at four and may take the new ball.
Van Deventer is playing his club cricket in Canterbury but has been encouraged to turn out again for Wairarapa this weekend and next with the chance of forcing his way into the CD squad.
The decision of Childs, who has played for Central Districts B, to make himself available for representative play after an absence of some years will strengthen the top order batting, as will the return of Cameron, who is playing his club cricket in Manawatu.
Wairarapa regulars of recent seasons who are back are likely openers Jamie Holmes and Tim Lucas, Matt Stringfellow, Steve Coleman and Paul Lyttle. Younger players being given an opportunity are bowlers Daniel Haxton and Harry Clinton-Baker, and wicketkeeper Matt McKenzie. Not available for Sunday but sure to be part of next weekend's line-up is Netherlands skipper Peter Borren.
Meanwhile, the draw for matches in the Umpire's Cup senior interclub competition tomorrow sees Rathkeale up against Flight Centre Lansdowne at the Rathkeale Oval and Red Star playing Wairarapa College at the Park Sportsground.
