Knights want win now

The Northern Knights don't want to leave things late.

The Grant Bradburn-coached side start their ninth-round Plunket Shield cricket match today against the Otago Volts in Whangarei seeking an outright win to clinch the title.

And while they know there would still be a second chance in the final round, the Knights want to crack open the champagne as early as possible.

"Our intention is to play positively and try to secure that outright win," Bradburn said.

The Knights lead the Plunket Shield table with 44 points, 12 ahead of Central.

"It's nice to have our destiny in our own hands," Bradburn admitted. "We feel we've earnt that right to be in that position by the way we've played this season."

The Knights have brought Trent Boult into their squad, with Brent Arnel making his Black Caps test debut against Australia, but it's unlikely the young left-armer will start at Cobham Oval.

Boult has been given the all-clear following a back stress fracture but the Knights are wary of him not being fully fit for four days of first-class cricket and may save him until the season's final encounter against Central in Napier.

The Knights are certain to use left-arm spinner Bruce Martin in tandem with off spinner Kane Williamson on a wicket they've scored two outright victories on from as many appearances this season.

"It'll be a similar wicket to the one that we beat Auckland on in our last game," Bradburn said.

"It's tailor-made for seam early then will take spin later, so it needs a balanced attack," he said.

Otago are fourth in the competition. They will be strengthened today by the return of a number of players. Neil Broom and Nathan McCullum are back from the New Zealand one-day squad while pace bowler Neil Wagner is back after a spell out through injury.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS

James Marshall (c), Michael Parlane, Brad Wilson, Kane Williamson, Hamish Marshall, Daniel Flynn, Joseph Yovich, Peter McGlashan, Graeme Aldridge, Bradley Scott, Bruce Martin, Trent Boult.

- © Fairfax NZ News