Auckland's Plunket Shield ambitions rest on their eighth round game against struggling Otago at Colin Maiden Park, starting today.
Under the points system in place, a maximum of 20 points are on offer in each game.
Auckland sit fourth - 26 points - behind leaders Northern Districts, whom they host in the penultimate round next week. But to give themselves a chance of adding to the HRV Cup they won earlier in the season, Otago must be well beaten, along with the hope that ND find life difficult against second-placed Wellington in the capital.
Auckland have lost their last two games, by seven wickets to Wellington and six wickets to Central Districts. With those results their momentum has gone too.
Limited-overs internationals Michael Bates and Colin de Grandhomme are back, along with seamer Dean Bartlett, but Auckland have dropped out-of-form opener Tim McIntosh, and experienced seamer Daryl Tuffey is also left out.
