The SkyCity Northern Knights are setting Mount Maunganui alight this afternoon at the Bay Oval's newly opened pavilion, in the first of two crucial matches of their 2013/2014 HRV Twenty20 campaign.

SKYCITY Northern Knights seam bowler Graeme Aldridge says at this stage, halfway through the competition, his team is sitting at the top of the table with four win out of five games.

SKYCITY Northern Knights seam bowler Graeme Aldridge is looking forward to this afternoon's HRV Twenty20 campaign at Bay Oval.

Today, the team explodes into action at Bay Oval by lining up against the Canterbury Wizards on Thursday, January 2; and then challenge the Wellington Firebirds on Saturday, January 4.

'These are very important games – if we manage to win both of those games one or maybe even one of them – we could probably ensure ourselves a semi-final or the final, which is our aim from the start of the season,” says Graeme.

'The new pavilion is just getting opened; and hopefully, for Bay of Plenty cricket it means more bigger games here, and the aim is international matches.

'It certainly is of international quality – we travel round for our games and this is certainly up there with the best.”

The men in pink, led by Bay of Plenty's Daniel Flynn, are lining up against the Canterbury Wizards this afternoon, with the game set to finish up at about 7pm; and then they challenge the Wellington Firebirds on Saturday, January 4.

Already four matches into the 10-round campaign, the Knights lead the competition with three impressive victories ahead of the Otago Volts and Auckland Aces.

In-form Blackcaps fast bowler Trent Boult bolsters the line-up for the first of two matches at Bay Oval at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui, following a short recovery from a thigh strain. He replaces Australian Chris Tremain, who has returned to the Sydney Thunder following his imposing performance against the Stags.

Speaking ahead of today's game, Northern Knights coach James Pamment says he's pleased with the side's opening performances, including bouncing back with two victories after a slight blip against the Otago Volts in Hamilton.

'We have made a reasonable start, but we will be looking to get the momentum back.”

James, who has been involved with Bay of Plenty Cricket since 2007, is excited to return to the Bay to unleash some of New Zealand's future stars in front of the holiday crowd – including Daryl Mitchell, Cam Fletcher and Scott Kuggeleijn.

'We have got some very exciting players who we know will be Black Caps of the future, so it's a great opportunity for them to lead and perform in the heat of battle.

'A game of T20 is a spectacle for anyone, not just the cricket purist. When you look around the world, T20 is attracting people that you would not expect.”

Tickets are available online at: www.gotheknights.co.nz with a special discount if promo code HRVT20 is used. Children under 16 cost $5 or enter free with a Junior Knights Club card.

An exclusive training session with the squad, for Junior Knights Club members, is at Blake Park on Friday, January 3 from 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Today's squad: SKYCITY Northern Knights squad vs Canterbury Wizards:

Daniel Flynn (Captain) BOP

Graeme Aldridge BOP

Jono Boult BOP

Trent Boult BOP

Anton Devcich Hamilton

Scott Kuggeleijn Hamilton

Daryl Mitchell Hamilton

Ish Sodhi Counties Manukau

Scott Styris Waikato Valley

Anurag Verma Hamilton

BJ Watling Hamilton

Brad Wilson Northland