KEY POINTS:
Two openers, one in strong form, the other with a bright future, are expected to present their credentials for higher honours when Auckland play the West Indies this week.
Auckland's coach Mark O'Donnell won't finalise his 12 until today, but Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill have a big chance against the tourists in what are expected to be good batting conditions on Eden Park's outer oval.
Tall lefthander McIntosh, with 140 and 191 from his three first-class games so far this season, will be aiming to prove his qualities against tougher opponents. He has hit 13 first-class hundreds, an Auckland record.
While McIntosh has a chance of selection, Guptill, 22, is more a work in progress.
He had a cracking State Shield season last summer, topping the aggregates with 596 runs at 59.6. His championship form was ordinary, averaging 21.5, but he went on the winter New Zealand A tour of India and has impressed important eyes.
If the pair do open, Auckland captain Richard Jones is likely to come in at No 3 in what could shape up as a strong Auckland lineup.
Guptill dislocated his right knee at the end of October in a practice match at Whangarei. Originally thought likely to be sidelined until around Christmas, he has made a rapid recovery.
"He has rehabbed very conscientiously," O'Donnell said yesterday.
Guptill played club cricket at the weekend, and an A trial game and providing he has no relapse this week should get his chance on Friday.
Given the performances of New Zealand's test openers, Jamie How and Aaron Redmond, in Brisbane and Adelaide in the last two weeks - one score over 30 in a combined eight innings - the selectors, Glenn Turner, Dion Nash and John Wright must at the least be considering the alternatives for next week's first test in Dunedin.
That squad is expected to be named on Saturday, the selectors convening in Auckland during the tour match.
O'Donnell had a simple message for the pair.
"Not many provinces get to play international opposition these days. The message is watch the ball and if you get through these games the selection takes care of itself," he said.
"If you're getting runs you start putting pressure on anyone."
One recent international bowler, Kyle Mills, is expected to lead the Auckland attack, his motivation for a sharp display self-evident after being overlooked for the two Australian tests.
"It's a great opportunity for him. He bowled pretty well against Wellington [last week]. He'll certainly bowl worse than he did there and get better figures," O'Donnell added.
The match is a first-class fixture, preventing the nonsense of teams using 12 or 13, with players coming in to fulfil their specialist roles then stepping aside.
The West Indies had their first outdoor practice at Eden Park yesterday, and will be back there again this afternoon.
