Nine new players, two of them schoolboy's, have been named in the North Otago cricket squad to prepare for a warm-up game against North Canterbury in Rangiora on November 11 and 12.

Captain Mark Wilson said yesterday while the batting depth was reasonably good, North Otago could battle with their bowling.

"That's where we could be struggling a bit without Neil (Rushton) and (David) Sewell this time," he said.

Rushton and Sewell, both left-arm pace bowlers, are playing club cricket in Dunedin this season, with Rushton in particular likely to play a number of Max games for Otago.

North Otago will look instead to the right-arm inswing deliveries of Jason Jones and Brad Kernahan, the latter fresh form a fairly demanding rugby season.

The variation in the attack will be provided by Albion's Matt Tait (left-arm quick) and Waitaki Boy's High School players Tim Geeves, a left-arm off-spinner.

The batting looks solid, with Aaron Dawe and Glynn Cameron the likely openers, and Mark Wilson, Duncan Drew and Ryan de Joux all capable of big scores early up the order. So too is former test wicketkeeper Lee Gemon, who is living in Christchurch but has committed himself to Otago as far as provincial cricket is concerned. And St Kevin's College provides a batsman of promise in Richard Cooney.

De Joux, who lives in Timaru but plays his club cricket here, could be looking for a place in the Otago B side this season, Wilson said.

Former first-class cricketer Justin Boyle is helping out at some training sessions, Wilson said , with Grant Billcliff taking an advisory role similar to the one taken by Keith Gardner last year. The team will be managed again by Bill Rushton.

North Otago's first Hawke Cup game is scheduled for Centennial Park against Southland on December 2 and 3.