If there was ever the need to produce the complete cricketing performance, now would be a good time for the Northern Knights as they go in search of a valuable Ford Trophy semi-final spot.

Top-class cricket returns to Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval tomorrow as the Knights square off against the Auckland Aces for the second time in four days and with plenty at stake for both sides.

Northern Knights batsmen Jono Hickey is all concentration during training at Bay Oval. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The Knights, currently siting in fourth spot on the ladder with 12 points – 14 points adrift of leaders Central Stags – need a win with the Canterbury Wizards breathing down their neck on 11 points.

The Auckland Aces sit second with 24 points and a win would bump them up to 28 and first spot if the Stags fall to the Wellington Firebirds.

Northern Knights coach James Pamment says the team is well aware of the task at hand and couldn't be happier with the preparation so far.

Their season got off to a bad start, losing by a staggering 222 runs to the Otago Volts in the opening round. But the Knights have gone on to forge a win-loss record of 3-4 which keeps them in the hunt for finals action.

'The season has been a bit inconsistent so far, that would be the best word to use,” says James.

'We have won some good battles and suffered some close losses. We have lost four and won three but it could have easily been won five and lost two.”

Added incentive will be an outcome reversal from four days ago when the Aces trumped the Knights by one wicket in Auckland.

Batting first the Knights posted a neat 300 all-out, with Blackcap Dean Brownlie smashing 118 for the visitors and sending a message to the national selectors not to forget him.

With the Aces needing around 10 runs an over with 10 overs remaining in the match, a blaze of batting action and the Knights' bowlers grabbing regular wickets saw the match go down to the last ball, where the Aces sneaked home with just a solitary wicket to spare.

Pamment admits the side is yet to produce the complete package, of batting, bowling and fielding, but is confident having the ability to roll out the same side will help.

Knights skipper Daniel Flynn is back from illness while Pamment can also call on Blackcaps Brownlie, BJ Watling and Anton Devcich to add some starch at the top of the order.

Brownlie sits 8th on the Ford Trophy batting standings with 301, closely followed by Mitchell Santner's 282.

In the bowling stakes Blackcap leg-spinner Ish Sodhi's 11 scalps has him in 7th with Scott Kuggeleijn in 9^th with 10.

Starting at 11am, entry to the match is free in what is what is expected to be a high-scoring encounter.

'Where better to be playing at this time of the year than the Mount?” asks Pamment.

'A large contingent of us are from over here so we want to do well when we come here.”

Northern Knights side to take on the Auckland Aces:

Daniel Flynn (Captain)

Graeme Aldridge

Jono Boult

Dean Brownlie

Anton Devcich

Jono Hickey

Scott Kuggeleijn

Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell Santner

Ish Sodhi

Anurag Verma

BJ Watling