Martin Guptill will return to the Auckland side for their seventh round one-day match against Wellington at Eden Park today, provided he pulls up well from yesterday's final ODI against the West Indies.
Guptill, who made a memorable 122 not out on debut at Eden Park for New
Zealand last weekend, had been in good State Shield touch before getting the call up, with 124 off 97 balls and 58 from 66 in his previous two innings.
Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell confirmed yesterday that Guptill was keen to return to the provincial competition.
The other change in the squad of 13 is the return of Rob Nicol for his first match for Auckland this season.
Test opener Tim McIntosh, who hit 71 in his first one-dayer for Auckland in three seasons in the three-wicket win over Canterbury last Saturday, retains his place in the squad for a game Auckland realise if they win can put them firmly in the playoff frame.
Even though they remain bottom of the table, having lost their first four games and won the last two, they can bunch the table up with a win today.
The big game of the round has Northern Districts hosting leaders Central Districts at Whangarei.
Otago play Canterbury in Dunedin.
