Cricket: Dual advantage with Auckland

The domination Auckland and Wellington teams have enjoyed for the past four seasons lives on.

With two wins each in the past four seasons, bragging rights are at stake when the two sides square off on Eden Park's outer oval tomorrow on the opening day of the scheduled five-day State Championship final.

The advantage is with Auckland, who have the home ground and need only a first-innings win to regain the silverware.

Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell is not thinking like that.

"I want to win [outright]. We are not going out to play for a draw. We have got to where we are this season by being positive.

"There is no point in changing things now. It is, for all intents and purposes, just another game. Apart from the game against Northern Districts, we have played positively all season.

"I'll take one disappointing result in eight."

It is a different scenario for Wellington, who have to win outright to retain the title.

Coach Vaughn Johnson has been pleased with his team's form, and although no one player could replace Stephen Fleming, he has taken some satisfaction in the contributions from in-form batsmen Michael and Neal Parlane.

"After not getting contracts last season they have come back well and have fully deserved their places."

Johnson also had a word of praise for captain Matthew Bell.

"Matthew has been a good journeyman for us for five years. It would be nice if he could get runs in this one, but his contribution has already been immense."

Wellington are without Fleming, Iain O'Brien and James Franklin, while Auckland will have Lou Vincent and Kyle Mills on test duty in Napier.

Kerry Walmsley, rested for Auckland's last match against Central Districts, returns to replace his Howick Pakuranga team-mate Mills in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Given the need to ensure they post a healthy first-innings tally, O'Donnell will be looking to Richard Jones and Matt Horne to provide a solid start at the top of the order.

"They have both worked hard in the last couple of weeks," O'Donnell said. "Matt has been a bit deceiving. While he has not had any big scores lately, he is still averaging around 42-44.

"Only Lou [Vincent], at over 100 [from five matches] has done better."

O'Donnell has yet to decide on his 12th man, with the likely choice between Andy McKay and Mark Gillespie.

"We will have a look at the wicket and make a call. It is a newish strip which has been used only once. The outer oval wickets have, in general, been outstanding, with good pace and bounce.

"But, in the end, we know if we play well we will beat them. I have reminded VJ [Johnson] to bring my trophy back. We have lost only once this season. We don't want to add to that."

In their early clash this season - when matches were played over four days - Auckland conceded a first-innings lead when Michael Parlane scored a double-hundred, but came back to win outright.

If McKay is not required for the final he will turn out for Howick-Pakuranga in the New Zealand club championship at Cornwall Park.

The six-day tournament, starting on Tuesday, brings together the leading one-day sides from the six major associations.

Auckland teams have been shut out since it was first played in the 1994-95 season when Grafton United won.

Otago's Green Island and Wellington's University have won three times each in the past nine years, with the southerners returning for another crack.

North City, representing Wellington, have named three of Wellington's State Championship players - Sam Fairley, Mark Gillespie and Stu Mills - in their line-up, obviously hoping the team can get through the early rounds while awaiting the trio's switch from Eden Park to Cornwall Park.

Howick-Pakuranga, without Auckland representatives Brooke Walker and Walmsley, have only McKay as a current first-class player, although Tafadzwa Madondo played once at that level in his native Zimbabwe.

They also have former New Zealand under-19 captain and top-order batsman Marc Ellison and Derek de Boorder, who has scored freely in club play this season.

Green Island have included Otago representatives Brad Scott and Jordan Sheen in their side and Central Districts' United have Bevan Griggs and Ewen Thompson in their 14.

Fraser Tech, Northern Districts' representative, have Jaden Hatwell and Grant Robinson to provide the first-class experience.