Carrus Mount Maunganui will face a Mount Everest challenge this week, when they represent Northern Districts at the NZCT National Club Cricket Championships being played at Cornwall Park in Auckland.

The National Club Championships have been hosted by the Cornwall Cricket Club for over two decades and brings together the best premier sides, from each of the six NZ Cricket Major associations, in head to head combat.

Mount Maunganui will be endeavoring to emulate Otumoetai Cadets, who are the only Northern Districts side to win the national crown, after success at the 2003 National Club Champs.

The Western Bay of Plenty team earned the right to represent Bay of Plenty in the ND Club Champs playoffs, after victory in the BOPCA Baywide Cup.

Success in the ND playoffs has seen Mount Maunganui preparing to square off against each of the winners from the five other major associations in round robin play, before the Finals Day playoffs this Sunday.

The ND representatives with enter the National Championships title race with a strong line-up on both bat and ball.

Bay of Plenty representative batsmen Peter Drysdale, Brenton Thompson and Ben Musgrave are vital components in the Bay of Plenty team, which retained the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl and Hawke Cup, in the just-completed minor association representative season.

Nick Smith, Ben Guild and keeper Matt Golding are others who can make solid contributions with the bat. Bay of Plenty strike bowlers Tony Goodin and Chris Atkinson will lead the Mount pace attack along with medium pacer Dan Hill.

Mount captain Dale Swan, Nick Smith and Kyle Dovey are accomplished spin bowlers who have taken plenty of wickets during the recent Baywide premier season.

Mount Maunganui have a reputation of promoting promising young players into their premier ranks with Blair McKenzie, Logan Carr, Kyle Dovey and Luke Tatley expected to reap plenty of experience for the future.

Half of the current Mount team were in the side that progressed through to the 2011 National Club Championship Finals.

Mount Maunganui side's first match will be against Takapuna, before squaring off with Canterbury representatives in Old Boys Collegians on day two.

Thursday brings defending titleholders Eastern Suburbs from Wellington, before Mount plays Albion (Otago) and United Central (Central Districts) on the last two days of qualifying play.