Cricket: A truly pivotal match likely at Hagley Oval

Get prepared for that cricketing rarity: a full-strength Auckland and Canterbury to meet in the State Championship. The two teams meet today at Hagley Oval in a match that, as early as the second round, is already shaping as pivotal.

"It was probably always going to be that way," Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said. "You've got ourselves, Wellington and Canterbury who look pretty strong."

Auckland will welcome back all-rounders Tama Canning, who joined the Black Caps for their third and final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match on Friday night, Andre Adams and Kyle Mills. Canterbury have Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum.

They would have had the services of Chris Harris but for the veteran's shoulder injury, an injury that opened the door for Canning after his impressive first-round Championship double of nine wickets and 115 in Auckland's only innings.

O'Donnell said the elevation was just reward for Canning who had a difficult season last after being on the fringes of the Black Caps the year before.

"He battled last season but worked hard in the winter to turn it around," he said. "He had injury problems last season and just couldn't get it right."

Auckland go into the match off the back of an emphatic victory, albeit against a Northern Districts team who again seem to be off the pace of the other five associations.

"You've got to go out there and do it," O'Donnell said. "I was pleased with the performance of the bowlers and we hung in there with the bat. It took good batting from Tama and Brooke [Walker] to push past 400."

Canterbury conceded first innings points to Wellington in their first-round match against them, before rain washed the match out, ending in a draw.

Auckland will find it harder to roll Canterbury on the flat deck of Hagley Oval. "It's a good first-class wicket," the Auckland coach said. "You've got to play a patient game.

"If you're patient at the crease, you will be rewarded and, when you're bowling, you've got to concentrate on bowling the right lines and lengths and grab the chances that come."

He is quite happy for his side to be the favourites this season after conceding they didn't play "quite as well" as they would have liked last season.