The Northern Knights are welcoming back one of their Australian imports ahead of their crucial HRV Twenty20 Preliminary Final against the Canterbury Wizards.

Sydney Thunder's Chris Tremain returns for the Knights in tonight's clash at Seddon Park after impressing for the men in pink during a previous stint with the side.

Sydney Thunder's Chris Tremain, centre, returns for the Northern Knights.

The tall right-arm pace bowler was part of the Knights side that beat the Central Stags by 25 runs in December, taking a useful 2 for 21 off his four overs.

He returned to Australia for three games for the Thunder, and replaces Thunder teammate Luke Feldman, who played the last two matches for the Knights.

This will be the second game in succession that the Northern Knights have faced the Wizards. The Knights will be hoping to make the most of the home crowd advantage after their final round loss to the Wizards at Hagley Oval last Sunday.

Blackcaps Ish Sodhi, BJ Watling and Kane Williamson will play, but Corey Anderson and Tim Southee are unavailable while Trent Boult is being rested with a thigh injury.

Williamson and Watling will join the experience of Daniel Flynn, Brad Wilson and Scott Styris, along with big-hitting Anton Devcich and Daryl Mitchell in a strong batting line-up.

Tremain and Sodhi will be supported by paceman Scott Kuggeleijn and Graeme Aldridge, and in-form spinner Jono Boult, who took 3 for 19 in the last match.

The winner of Friday night's game will face the Otago Volts in Saturday night's Final, also being played at Seddon Park with both games starting at 7.15pm.

The venue for both finals was decided by New Zealand Cricket before the start of the season.

Northern Knights to face the Canterbury Wizards:

Daniel Flynn © - Bay of Plenty

Graeme Aldridge – Bay of Plenty

Jono Boult – Bay of Plenty

Anton Devcich – Hamilton

Scott Kuggeleijn – Hamilton

Daryl Mitchell – Hamilton

Ish Sodhi – Counties Manukau

Scott Styris – Waikato Valley

Chris Tremain – Overseas player

BJ Watling – Hamilton

Kane Williamson – Bay of Plenty

Brad Wilson – Northland