Wellington Firebirds simply need winning points

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

RETURN: Jeetan Patel has returned from the international cricketing wilderness.

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Never mind ball tampering and collusion, Wellington coach Anthony Stuart simply wants four points from today's one-dayer against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.

Auckland have been under fire of late, with English import Ravi Bopara accused of fiddling with the seam and skipper Gareth Hopkins of jacking up a result in a four-dayer.

Stuart is still dark on the Auckland-Northern Districts' controversial Plunket Shield match and is aware of the ball tampering claims, but his most pressing concerns lie within.

Wellington were blown off the park by Canterbury on Sunday and, boasting just one win from three games, need to front today.

It won't be easy against a powerful Auckland side suddenly buoyant after back-to-back wins, and Stuart admitted there were concerns with both the bat and ball after the 140-run loss.

"It was a poor performance and we don't shy away from that," Stuart said. "We started poorly with the ball, we finished poorly with the ball and then obviously with the bat it was soft all-round. It just wasn't good enough, our highest partnership was 25."

Stuart has asked for one of his top-five batsmen to score 80-plus in every game.

BJ Crook returns at No 3 for Neal Parlane to add an extra bowling option, while Chris Nevin is in for Joe Austin-Smellie following the birth of his twins.

"If we're going to make our mark on this competition our batters have got to aim up at the top of the order," Stuart said.

"We've played well in patches but that's not good enough."

Wellington are unfamiliar with Auckland's new home at Colin Maiden Park and either leg-spinner Robbie Schaw or quick Malaesaili Tugaga are expected to carry the drinks.

"By all accounts there will be a little bit in it for the bowlers and it tends to flatten out," Stuart said.

"We've covered our bases, and we've got an extra spinner just in case."

James Franklin is back bowling with a bit of zip in the nets and may be tossed the ball today if Wellington find themselves in trouble.

"But I think the longer we can rest it and get more strength in his knee, the better it will be," Stuart said. "The option's there – if we need him to bowl he can bowl, but our preference at the moment is to let him build his loads up and get more training into it."

Auckland welcome back Scott Styris and Lou Vincent to a 13-man squad. Styris passed a fitness test on his injured shoulder yesterday but will be reassessed this morning, while comeback kid Vincent is also in the mix to play.

Vincent has just arrived back from England and is setting his sights on returning to the Black Caps.

Auckland coach Paul Strang has called for a complete display from his side today.

"We've seen some great individual performances get us home in the last two encounters so I think we're still searching for that great team performance," Strang said.

Also today, Central Districts host Northern Districts at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park.

How They Line Up

Auckland (from): Gareth Hopkins (c), Reece Young, Tim McIntosh, Richard Jones, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Andrew de Boorder, Ronnie Hira, Daryl Tuffey, Michael Bates, Bhupinder Singh, Richard Sherlock Wellington (from): Matthew Bell (c), Cameron Merchant, BJ Crook, James Franklin, Chris Nevin, Stewart Rhodes, Luke Woodcock, Dewayne Bowden, Jeetan Patel, Malaesaili Tugaga, Robbie Schaw, Andy McKay TAB: Auckland $1.70, Wellington $2.05 Standings: Canterbury 9 points, Auckland 8, Northern 8, Otago 4, Wellington 4, Central 4

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