The Northern Knights are looking to continue their climb up the Plunket Shield ladder against Wellington after an incredible 310 run victory over ladder leaders Canterbury.

After setting Canterbury 383 for victory, the Knights routed the wizards for just 73 on the final days with Blackcap leggie Ish Sodhi claiming a career-best 5/29.

Northern Knights batsman Brad Wilson during a training session at Bay Oval leading up to the 2013/24 season.

The result now has the Knights sitting in fourth place with three games to go, just 11 points adrift from second, and 18 from top. A maximum 20 points gain can be achieved in any of the matches.

With all three of its remaining matches against teams placed second or third, results are highly likely, giving the northern men the chance to rise further.

With the Blackcaps turning their attention to the first Test against India in Auckland on Thursday, the Knights lose some serious strike power in the form of Trent Boult, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi from the side that defeated Canterbury.

Also in the Blackcaps squad, making it six Knights players in the 12, are Kane Williamson, Corey Anderson and Tm Southee.

Replacing Boult, Watling and Sodhi are Jono Boult, James Baker and debutant Rory Christopherson.

Christopherson, 25, from Northland takes over the gloves from Watling. He has previously shown his wares playing for Northern Districts A during the last two season after relocating to Northland from Auckland.

According to the Knights he is a very accomplished gloveman and determined lower order batsman – also opening for Northland on occasions.

The hard-luck story is young contracted wicket-keeper Cameron Fletcher who has waited patiently behind Watling for the majority of the season for an opportunity.

Instead he is set to undergo surgery after hurting it in Round 3 of the Plunket Shield. The surgery is likely to rule him out for remainder of the summer.

But the Knights are buoyed by the performances of its young batsmen in the most recent Plunket Shield encounter.

The future is looking exceedingly bright with Joe Carter, 21, making 64, 23-year-old Bharat Popli compiling 82 and Mitchel Santner, 21, registering his debut century, 118, in their only innings for the match.

The Northern Knights versus Wellington Firebirds begins on Friday at Wellington's Karori Park.

Northern Knights side:

Daniel Flynn © - Bay of Plenty

Graeme Aldridge – Bay of Plenty

James Baker – Hamilton

Jono Boult – Bay of Plenty

Joe Carter – Bay of Plenty

Rory Christopherson – Northland

Scott Kuggeleijn – Hamilton

Daryl Mitchell – Hamilton

Bharat Popli – Bay of Plenty

Mitchell Santner – Hamilton

Anurag Verma – Hamilton

Brad Wilson – Northland