Cricket: Opposition all the same to Auckland

Craig Cachopa has had punishing middle order innings. Photo / Getty Images

Third-placed side to face ND and Wellington

Auckland captain Rob Nicol isn't worried which team his side will meet in their must-win T20 clash at Seddon Park tomorrow night for one good reason.

Win that game against the loser of tonight's opening preliminary final, Northern Districts or Wellington, and they'll then face the other one in Sunday night's Georgie Pie Super Smash final. So there's no point stewing over which captain he'll toss with tomorrow night.

And Nicol certainly doesn't hold truck with the notion of underdogs, as the third-placed finisher after the round robin.

"No, I don't get involved in any of that underdog scenario. Really it's 1, 2 and 3 and we've got to win two games to get to the Champions League. So do the No 1 team," he said. "Mathematically it's just two games and you're there. If only it was that easy."

However, Nicol accepts ND, who won last year's title and made a decent fist of the international tournament this season, should start favourites. They beat Auckland in both round robin games and Wellington once, with the other game abandoned. Auckland had a win and a loss against Wellington.

"They're a quality outfit," Nicol said of ND. "They made us do things we didn't want to do.

"But we're in with a sniff. We have to keep believing we are playing the right way and it's got us this far."

ND possess the leading round robin runscorer in captain Daniel Flynn. Offspinner Jono Boult and seamers Scott Kuggeleijn and Australian Ben Laughlin have been significant bowlers for the defending champions.

Nicol's flying 71 off 43 balls saw off Wellington and he's had a decent campaign with the bat, while Craig Cachopa has produced punishing middle order innings.

Tarun Nethula's legspin has been an asset, his 10 wickets costing just 21 apiece.

"He's been a real go-to man in terms of what he's done for us," Nicol said. "He gets us wickets at the right times and really piles on the pressure with a new batter."

And Wellington? In former Australian international Brad Hodge, they possess a genuine match winner, as seen in his blazing, unbeaten 84 off just 42 balls at Eden Park, which ripped a probable win from Auckland's grasp.

Expect captain James Franklin to have a say in the weekend's activities.