By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA
Without Matt Horne at the top of the order and Dion Nash in the middle, the Auckland batting lineup will be reshuffled for today's match against Northern Districts in Hamilton.
Llorne Howell, who sat out Auckland's third-round win over Otago, seems likely to return, but possibly
not to join Tim McIntosh in opening the innings.
Auckland coach Tony Sail said he had several options, but had yet to make a decision.
"We could use Tama Canning, Brooke Walker or maybe Reece Young," Sail said. "We will wait until we have had a look at the pitch before making a final decision on our playing X1."
Mark Haslam also returns to the squad, and might get his first chance of the season.
In a surprise move, young pace bowler Dunu Eliaba comes into the 12-man squad.
As early leaders in the State Championship race, Auckland are under some pressure to maintain their advantage.
They were headed on the first innings by Otago, but fought back strongly to take outright points.
The pitch at WestpacTrust Park was under cover yesterday afternoon, but it promises to be a good one.
Northern Districts have been forced to make changes. Left-arm spinner Bruce Martin is out with broken ribs inflicted while he was batting against Canterbury in Gisborne.
"We are not sure how long he will be sidelined, but hopefully he will be back for the one-day games next month," Northern captain Robbie Hart said.
Top-order batsman Grant Robinson seems certain to play his first match, after being struck a nasty blow to the face while batting early in the first innings of the District Association Xl match against Bangladesh in Wanganui three weeks ago.
It seems likely that one of Northern's four pace bowlers will be the 12th man. Simon Doull is away with the A team in Christchurch.
Central Districts coach Dipak Patel wants more consistency from his top order when they meet Canterbury in New Plymouth.
Patel was disappointed by some of the efforts of his top-order batsmen in their previous championship matches.
Central Districts cannot afford to slip further behind Auckland if they are to make a realistic bid for the title.
"The last thing you want to be doing is coming back for the last part of the first-class season, as far as the four-day games are concerned, up to 15 points behind because it is very hard to catch up," Patel said.
"It is crucial we get something out of this game."
The Pukekura Park pitch appears to offer encouragement.
"It looks a typical Taranaki wicket, nice and firm, and I think there will be lots of runs in it."
The Central Districts selectors have made two changes to the squad who drew with Wellington in the last round at the Basin Reserve.
Mathew Sinclair, away on test duty, is replaced by Richard King. Lance Hamilton has been dropped in favour of Nelson legspinner Tim Anderson.
English professional Ben Smith will again captain the side, but he has been in poor form this summer, scoring only 32 runs from five innings.
Patel will want more from him, as well as from openers Richard Scragg and David Kelly.
Second-placed Canterbury have the services of New Zealand pace bowler Chris Martin.
Martin, released from his 12th-man duties in the Wellington test, should enjoy the extra bounce of the Pukekura Park pitch.
Canterbury coach Michael Sharp has plenty of experience in his 14-man squad, including former internationals Gary Stead, Chris Harris and Warren Wisneski.
Otago take an unchanged side into the match against Wellington at Carisbrook.
Wellington are likely to give top-order batsman David Sales his chance after naming him to replace Phil Chandler.
"All we want is some cricket," coach Vaughn Johnson said.
"We have lost six of 12 days to rain already."
After these fourth-round matches, there will be a break until February 12 while the State Shield (one-day) competition is played.
Points: Auckland 13, Canterbury 10, Northern and Central 6, Wellington 3, Otago 2.
Teams:
fusixpoint
Northern Districts v Auckland, WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton.
Northern Districts: James Marshall, Matthew Hart, Grant Robinson, Mark Bailey, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn, Robbie Hart (capt), Joseph Yovich, Ian Butler, Darryl Tuffey, Graeme Aldridge.
Auckland: Tim McIntosh, Aaron Barnes, Nick Horsley, Llorne Howell, Rob Nicol, Brooke Walker (capt), Kyle Mills, Reece Young, Tama Canning, Andre Adams, Mark Haslam, Dunu Eliaba.
Central Districts v Canterbury, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
Central Districts: David Kelly, Richard Scragg, Richard King, Ben Smith (capt), Glen Sulzberger, Jamie How, Campbell Furlong, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford, Tim Anderson.
Canterbury: Jarrod Englefield, Shannon Stewart, Michael Papps, Robbie Frew, Gary Stead (capt), Chris Harris, Aaron Redmond, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski, Chris Martin, Stephen Cunis, Wade Cornelius.
Otago v Wellington, Carisbrook, Dunedin.
Otago: Robbie Lawson, Brendon McCullum, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Lee Germon (capt), Martyn Croy, Craig Pryor, Kerry Walmsley, Rob Smith, David Sewell, Evan Marshall.
Wellington: Matthew Bell (capt), Richard Jones, David Sales, Selwyn Blackmore, Grant Donaldson, Chris Nevin, James Franklin, Matthew Walker, Andrew Penn, Mark Jefferson, Jeetan Patel, Ashley Turner.
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