The Kiwis currently hold the trophy after last year’s test was washed out and they won the previous year in New Zealand.

The Emus head into the two-day test against Canterbury Colts in good form.

They’ve only lost the one game on tour and are fresh from an innings and 196-run win over Marlborough.

It was a dominant performance and exactly how they have to play today and tomorrow, coach Peter Clifford said.

“We will have to play well because we’re playing the cream of who we’ve played so far,” Clifford said.

He is confident of victory but said they can’t afford to play any worse than they did against Marlborough to be competitive.

A lot will hinge on how well they perform with the bat.

“If we bat well we’ll get them out,” Clifford said.

“We just need everyone to contribute. If someone gets a big 100 we’ll be right.”

That was what happened against Marlborough. Armidale’s Michael Dawson, and Michael Rees both scored centuries – Dawson an almost double ton – as the Emus amassed 6(dec)-472.

With South Tamworth quick Angus McNeill back bowling in that game, the attack is getting back to full firepower.

Since the first game, they had been virtually operating a quick down, and to have the full attack for the test is good, Clifford said.

n  Tamworth and Armidale have named below strength teams fr Sunday’s fifth round War Veterans Cup match in Armidale.

Gunnedah an Narrabri play the other WVC match at Gunnedah on Sunday but for Armidale and Tamworth it’s been a struggle to pick sides with a number of key men missing.

n Turn to page 24 for more.