The Northern Knights finished a three-day camp at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval today confident they can compete with the best at the lucrative 2014 Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India.
But first the Knights have to finish in the top two of four qualifying teams.
The Knights depart Monday forBengaluru, where they will train and acclimatise for a week before their opening qualifier against Sri Lanka's Southern Express in Raipur on September 13.
Knights captain Daniel Flynn, who also captained Tauranga Boys' College and Mount Maunganui, says they are pleased with their preparation.
"Obviously you don't go to these tournaments unless you are going there to win, but we realise we have to qualify first and foremost against quality sub-continent teams," said Flynn.
"It is going to be conditions familiar to them so it is going to be a good challenge. But we have worked hard over the last month or so at camps here, and have a good build-up over there firstly in Bangalore, so fingers crossed we can get things right on the night."
Knights coach James Pamment, who also played club cricket for Mount Maunganui, says much analysis has been done on their opponents in the qualifying knock-out.
"We have scouted them extensively. A number of the players are international cricketers and many of our guys have played against them around the world," Pamment said.
"This is a unique opportunity that ND has not had in the past and we are really looking forward to it. We have got a talented group of players and we believe we have 15 guys going over there who can win this competition."
Northern Knights team: Daniel Flynn (captain), Kane Williamson, Graeme Aldridge, Trent Boult, Jono Boult (Bay of Plenty), BJ Watling, Anton Devcich, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (Hamilton), Brad Wilson, Tim Southee (Northland), Scott Styris (Waikato Valley), Ish Sodhi (Counties), Daniel Harris (overseas player, Australia)
