KEY POINTS:
Auckland will be delighted if classy wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins switches allegiance from Otago for next summer.
Hopkins, 30 and with five ODIs for New Zealand behind him, has been a standout performer for Otago since moving from Canterbury in 2003.
But he is pondering his options after test and ODI wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum's decision to move back to Otago.
Hopkins, who received his first national contract last month, has been talking to Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell.
His wife lives and works in Auckland, adding to the appeal of a move.
The deadline for contracted players to decide which province they will be aligned to next season was last Friday, but Hopkins, who is completing an off-season in the Netherlands, was given a week's extension by NZ Cricket.
"If Gareth wants to come and play here we'd obviously be delighted," Auckland Cricket chief executive Andrew Eade said yesterday.
"He's a class player and would add to our strength."
If the talks prove fruitful, it could be grim news for Auckland's incumbent wicketkeeper Reece Young, a 68-first-class-game veteran.
The six major associations will offer their 12 domestic contracts to players at the end of this month. Auckland is holding its ranking meeting next week. The successful recipients will be announced on July 15.
Hopkins is outside that list as he is on a national contract, but Auckland want to know his decision as soon as possible, as it could affect the makeup of the 12 to get provincial deals.
