The Bay of Plenty representative cricket team is taking on the Hawkes Bay in two one-day friendlies at the Tauranga Domain this Labour Weekend.

While Saturday and Sunday's matches are non-competition games, bragging rights will definitely be on the line after the Bay relieved Hawkes Bay of the Hawke Cup last season.

On Saturday, the two sides will meet in a 106 over (red ball) over match and will back up the following day in a 50 over per side (white ball) encounter.

The BOP selectors have gone for a myriad of experience, coupled with a number of promising youngsters still eligible for Northern Districts age-group tournament cricket.

Northern Knights Jono Boult and Brett Hampton know all about pressure cricket and have both racked up over fifty games in the BOP uniform.

Saturday skipper Peter Drysdale and keeper Tim Clarke are two others to earn the Bay baggy cap embroidered with the number fifty.

The Hawkes Bay players will know all about Ben Musgrave who smashed 102 runs against them in the Hawke Cup Direct Challenge in March.

Brenton Thompson is a new face in Baywide cricket and made a real impression for Mount Maunganui in their first Baywide Cup match in October.

Luke Tatley and Gurwinder Singh, both made their BOP Development debuts last season, with Saturdays match another step up for the talented youngsters.

Sean Dykes, Jonty Grigson and Alastair Blackett have all made their mark in Baywide premier cricket in the last twelve months, with Iman Singh who still attends Tauranga Boys College another young rising star.

The Bay won the New Zealand Cricket Minor Association prize for the fifth time, after defeating Hawkes Bay in a Hawke Cup Direct Challenge in Napier earlier this year in March.

The match was an absolute thriller, with Hawkes Bay setting BOP a target of 205, on the afternoon of day three. Led by a Ben Musgrave century, the Bay got home to bring the Hawke Cup back to the real Bay.

Bay of Plenty v Hawkes Bay Warm-Up Matches take place at Tauranga Domain on Saturday and Sunday, October 22–23, from 10.30am.

BAY OF PLENTY TEAMS:

Saturday, October 22: Peter Drysdale (C) Sean Davey, Ben Musgrave, Jono Boult, Brett Hampton, Stephen Crossan, Tim Clarke, Donavan Deeble, Campbell Thomas, Luke Tatley, Gurwinder Singh, Kyle Dovey.

Sunday, October 23: Tim Clarke (C) Sean Dykes, Cameron Neal, Brenton Thompson, Jonty Grigson, Jono Boult, Brett Hampton, Matt Golding, Alastair Blackett, Donovan Deeble, Brody Gilroy, Iman Singh.