A lively match expected at Outer Oval

Auckland go into the fourth round of the Shell Cup tomorrow with the home advantage as they attempt to resurrect their prospects after a poor loss to Otago; visitors Wellington have the task of recovering from a three-loss pre-Christmas investment.

Despite two wins, over Northern Districts and Canterbury, the Auckland players have yet to perform consistently. Dion Nash has a 71, Aaron Barnes, Tim MacIntosh and Lou Vincent have reached the 50s but one out of three is hardly a comfortable return from the top order.

Tama Canning and Andre Adams have picked up where they left off last season at the bowling crease but, like the batting, the supporting cast is notable for producing just one good performance out of three appearances.

To widen the options, Auckland have brought in all-rounder Kyle Mills for middle-order batsman Richard King.

As would be expected from the residents at the bottom of the table, Wellington are also finding it difficult to extract consistent performances from the team, Matthew Bell and Jason Wells the exceptions with the bat and Matthew Walker with the ball.

Wells will come to Auckland off the back of a club-cricket century while the team will also be bolstered by the return of Andrew Penn and Richard Petrie, who completed a successful five for 15 club-match fitness test and will fill the gap left by James Franklin, on test-match duty in Wellington. And, of course, in the person of Roger Twose Wellington have the man many believe should be anchoring the New Zealand innings in Wellington.

With Nash on one side and Petrie and Twose on the other, the Outer Oval at Eden Park is likely to be the scene of another lively Auckland-Wellington confrontation - it is to be hoped within the bounds of game.