Bay of Plenty enters the second half of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl competition sitting just off the pace in the annual contest that decides provincial supremacy in Northern Districts Cricket.

This weekend the Bay of Plenty team contests a one-day encounter against Poverty Bay at the Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne.

The two teams have played on a myriad of occasions since they first met on April 20-21, 1946.

This weekend's encounter will have an extra edge with the Rigden Shield on the line.

The Rigden Shield, which is contested each time the two ND rivals meet, languished in obscurity in the Bay of Plenty until the Bay was beaten by Poverty Bay last year.

Poverty Bay requests for the shield have had the trophy tucked away in the Bay of Plenty Cricket hideaway.

Poverty Bay is sure to have the shield that dates back some 66 years on display on the sideline on Sunday.

Black Cap Daniel Flynn, who has been recuperating from injury for most of this season, has been named in the Bay team for the Poverty Bay match.

While he has been bracketed with Matthew Drake, Daniel will play, as long as he isn't required for the Northern Knights on the weekend.

First selected for the Bay senior men's side in 2001 while still at Tauranga Boys' College – Black Cap and ND duties have meant that it is five seasons since Flynn has worn the Bay of Plenty uniform.

The game in Gisborne is a must win encounter for the Bay to remain in Fergus Hickey contention.

With four matches remaining in the current Fergus Hickey season, Bay of Plenty needs to post a convincing victory to remain on track for any chance to win the ND trophy.

The first ND representative match of 2012 also resets the Hawke Cup calendar year challenge series.

Hawke Cup supremacy currently lies in Northern Districts with Counties Manukau which won the 2011 ND Hawke Cup challenge series to play holders Hamilton in late January 2012.

Bay of Plenty Team vs Poverty Bay, January 15

Jono Boult (captain) Peter Drysdale, Daniel Flynn/Mathew Drake, Joe Carter, Bharat Popli, Ben Christensen, Tim Clarke, Brett Hampton, Daniel Hill, Dale Swan, Tony Goodin, Amandeep Singh.

Fergus Hickey Points: Counties Manukau 20, Hamilton 13, BOP 11, Northland 9, Poverty Bay 4, Waikato Valley 4.