TWO CHANGES AS STAGS GET READY FOR FIREBIRDS

The Central Stags head into the third of the season's eight first-class matches looking to bounce back from being boxed out of last week's fixture against Canterbury.

The Stags took just two points after losing the toss at Nelson's Saxton Oval which played like a batsman's paradise.

Now, it's back to alternate home ground McLean Park, Napier from tomorrow - the same ground where they whipped the Otago Volts in the first round.

The mixed fortunes have the Stags still in the right half of the table as they prepare to host the defending champion Wellington Firebirds - who have yet to get a win this summer.

Brett Randell has returned quickly from injury | PHOTOSPORT

It's a good time for the Stags to reassert themselves in the points department, with eight first innings points up for grabs for both sides in every match, and 12 points on the table for a coveted outright win.

The pace allrounder stocks have been replenished as JOSH CLARKSON returns after the BLACKCAPS' white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, while opening bowler BRETT RANDELL makes a swift return from a hamstring strain suffered here two weeks ago.

Hawke's Bay pair ANGUS SCHAW and TYLER ANNAND - who made his debut in Nelson, picking up his first two wickets - are meanwhile away for Central Districts A in Taupō, with CD A playing in the annual T20 Men's A tournament as the Stags' main white-ball programme approaches.

The Stags will head into the McLean Park match 16 points behind unbeaten leader Northern Districts who havee meanwhile been docked a point for a slow over rate in their first round match against Canterbury.

Canterbury is now seven points in front of the Stags after winning in Nelson, leapfrogging Central into second spot on the ladder.

Dane Cleaver returns to his happy hunting ground | MBUTCHER

On the statistical front, BRAD SCHMULIAN will head into tomorrow's match on his home turf needing just 12 more runs to crack 3,000 first-class runs in the space of 49 matches, including six centuries and 16 half centuries since his record double century on debut in 2017/18.

First-round centurion DANE CLEAVER is meanwhile just 70 runs away from knocking off 5,000 first-class runs (including 480 runs for New Zealand A), while class paceman BLAIR TICKNER (below) requires nine further victims to join a select list of pace bowlers to have taken 200 first-class wickets for the Stags.

Blair Tickner is closing in on a major milestone | MBUTCHER

RANDELL is just seven strikes away from racking up his first 100 first-class victims (all teams) while AJAZ PATEL heads into the match on 388 first-class wickets, including 273 for Central.

So, there's no shortage of individual motivation - but it's the team first and foremost as the Stags look to collectively get back on track in the last home first-class fixture before Christmas (with a big away match in Mt Maunganui against leaders ND looming the following week).

LEARN MORE

The match in Napier has a scheduled start time of 10.30am each day and livescoring and a free livestream here at www.cdcricket.co.nz.

Sister team the CENTRAL HINDS will meanwhile be in action in their first home fixtures of the season at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park this Saturday and Sunday, hosting the Auckland Hearts in the national one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.

The squad will be announced on Friday.