[Kippax]

Full strength side for opener | Stuff.co.nz

Hartmann will bat at No 5 behind openers Peter Ingram and Robinson, with captain Dion Ebrahim at three and Young at four.

The other newcomer is Hondo - a former Zimbabwean international.

A fast bowler, Hondo plays his club cricket for the Hawera United premier side and takes the one available spot in the rep team for an overseas player.

O'Neill said Hondo has fitted in well to the rep squad since arriving late last month.

"We'll use him in the pre-Christmas games on the wickets that suit him," he said.

O'Neill said Hondo hits the wicket hard with the ball, adding Hondo's experience had already proved its worth, with him passing on bowling tips to the young players in the squad.

O'Neill doesn't need telling of the importance for a team to start the cup series well. It's a competition that if you start badly and get off the pace, getting back in contention is almost impossible.

There are six teams chasing the one available spot to challenge for the cup which is currently held by Hamilton. O'Neill was yesterday talking of a first innings win against Manawatu at best.

"The wicket at Pukekura Park is as good as I've seen prepared in years for a Taranaki game," he said. "So you would expect both batting sides might be hard to get out on that. I'd be surprised if it went to an outright result."