Plunket Shield cricket will return to the Bay Oval when the Northern Knights take on the Auckland Aces over four days of first class cricket.

Kicking off on Monday, the Knights go into the encounter at the top of the competition standings following two wins and a draw in the opening three rounds of the Plunket Shield.

There'll be plenty of local interest in the Plunket Shield match-up with Bay of Plenty players Daniel, Flynn who re-joins the side as captain after missing the last round with a hip injury, Corey Anderson and Joe Carter named in the side to take on the Aces.

Fellow Bay players Bharat Popli and Dean Brownlie are unavailable due to their commitments to the New Zealand A side in the Pakistan warm up game.

The last time the Knights squared off against the Aces at Bay Oval there was an avalanche of runs and plenty of wickets, so both teams as well as spectators will be hoping for a repeat next week.

The Plunket Shield is amongst the oldest major sporting trophies in New Zealand and was presented to the New Zealand cricket Association by the then Governor-General of New Zealand Baron Plunket in 1906.

The New Zealand Cricket four-day prize is awarded to the winner of the first past the post competition that is contested between Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago first-class teams.

The Northern Knights v Auckland Aces Plunket Shield Match takes place at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval, from November 14-17, starting daily at 10.30am.

For more information visit: www.ndcricket.co.nz

NZ CRICKET 2016/17 PLUNKET SHIELD POINTS TABLE:

1. Northern Knights 40
2. Wellington Firebirds 34
3. Auckland Aces 29
4. Canterbury Kings 28
5. Central Stages 18
6. Otago Volts 17