Even before the miserable spring, the frustration of the players' strike and the pending arrival of a rampant Indian team, the onset of the State Championship was shaping as one of the more interesting in recent history.

For all the bad press the national first-class competition gets, largely due to the lack of crowds, it is still the cornerstone of the game, and is the subject of an intense off-course following. Because of when it is played, normally during working days, the competition cannot attract the sort of crowds that might watch one-day games in the peak holiday period.

Another factor has been that all New Zealand's top players are taking part in the first two rounds, and possibly in the last rounds if the hope of reaching the latter stages of the World Cup are not realised.

Their presence has given the first part of the season a lift, especially in light of the fact that bad weather around the country has minimised the playing opportunities for many of them.

That will demand application of them as they attempt to confirm their prospects of selection in the first Test team.

Because of the need to give India a warm-up game, against Central Districts starting in Napier on December 6, a split round has been organised and as a result CD and Otago will play the opening game of the summer in splendid isolation in Wanganui starting tomorrow.

The Victoria Park pitch has a fine history of being a good run-scoring block early in the season, although that has generally been during a more regular spring.

The hope will be, however, that it is in the best possible shape for this match.

It is also an important game for both teams, although Otago will be disappointed to be going into the game without three key players in Shayne O'Connor and Jeff Wilson, both recovering from injuries, and David Sewell who has an exam.

CD are in a different position however. They have a look of genuine strength about them, strength that if able to achieve its potential would see the side in the running for the overall title.

But even that battle has the look of tightness about it.

With Mathew Sinclair looking to regain the best of his batting, and having started well in Marlborough, there is the prospect he will have an influence in the first two games. Add to that the experience of Craig Spearman who every bowler in the country knows to respect, the need for captain Jacob Oram to get among the runs to boost his World Cup prospects, Jamie How to build on the potential shown last year, and the support of players like Peter Ingram, Glen Sulzberger and Greg Loveridge, there is a solidity to the batting that could yield great results for the side.

CD's bowling attack has been around long enough now to demand the respect of all opponents. It is a fast-medium unit of Michael Mason, Lance Hamilton and Brett Hefford, that is very competitive and one of the players must be on the verge of breaking through to higher honours.

That would have to be the goal of each of them this summer. Mason appeals as the bowler likely to prosper most, but the others are also in with a show. And that is not to forget Andrew Schwass who is injured at the moment.

New coach Mark Greatbatch has much to work with and it will be interesting to see what he can get out of this side.

Craig Cumming, the Otago captain, comes into the match needing to get over his own injury problems having had knee surgery in the off season. Run scoring was the big problem for his side last year and getting competitive totals will be the key to Otago's prospects.

With batsmen like Chris Gaffaney, Robert Lawson, himself, Brendon McCullum, Mohammad Wasim, and with potential like Jordan Sheed, there must be hope that Otago can find the batting elixir to realise their competitiveness.

The bowling stocks are low. James McMillan is a player of potential while Daryll Reddington is an old hand from the Dunedin club scene who will be looked upon to provide some solidity under fire. Kerry Walmsley is a solid competitor who is only a hamstring, ligament strain or stress fracture from an international recall while Nathan Morland has the slow bowling under his care.

The remaining games in the round will start on December 5 between Auckland and Wellington in Auckland and Canterbury and Northern Districts at Rangiora.

Before then, however, all six teams will have a game, Northern Districts against Auckland in Gisborne, Otago against Canterbury at Dunedin and Wellington against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve.

As defending champion Auckland have a formidable look to them, but possibly without Lou Vincent, Andre Adams and Kyle Mills during the World Cup, they will be weakened. But the likelihood that Mark Richardson and Matt Horne will still be there, with Tim McIntosh, Rob Nicol and Rob Lynch still available plenty of runs are still possible.

Wellington too, have the look of a side wanting to regain the title they held two summers ago. Matthew Bell, Richard Jones, Stephen Fleming, Grant Donaldson, Matthew Walker and Luke Woodcock give the batting an impressive look while the bowling with Andrew Penn, James Franklin, Iain O'Brien and Jeetan Patel as the leading hands will ensure competitiveness.

Northern Districts are always there and abouts and are probably one of the more settled combinations in the competition. All that is needed for them to become a winner is for any one of their experienced players to step up a level and take a dominant hand. Invariably it needs to be a batsman because that is where it has lacked in the past.

Whether it is Scott Styris, James or Hamish Marshall, newcomer David Kelly or Michael Parlane, doesn't really matter, any one of them is capable.

Initially they will have Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori and Styris to call on and the side's ability to feature during the latter stages will depend on how the remaining bowlers step up.

Canterbury have the services of their elite players for the first part of the summer, and their efforts could be crucial to how they finish the season.

There are signs of emerging talent in the side this year and they will not lack for opportunities once the senior players move into their international obligations. Michael Papps and Wade Cornelius appeal as two players capable of taking the responsibility to give captain Gary Stead the attacking edge he needs for the team to succeed.

CricInfo's batsmen to watch: Michael Papps, James Marshall, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram.

CricInfo's bowlers to watch: Wade Cornelius, Luke Woodcock, James McMillan, Michael Mason, James Franklin.

© CricInfo