NZ vs Aus 4th ODI - Australia Eye Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

Auckland: The Australians return to Auckland for Thursday's 4th one day international against New Zealand with their focus fixed firmly on a win that will secure a series victory and allow them to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The confident tourists lead the five-match series 2-1, following Tuesday's comfortable six-wicket win in Hamilton.

An eager Tasmanian skipper George Bailey will be champing at the bit to make his ODI debut after being called-up in place of vice-captain Michael Clarke who's returned home to Australia on compassionate leave.

And seamer Ryan Harris, who claimed 3-48 in Hamilton, is sure to be on a high after being named in Australia's 14-man squad to contest the two-Test series starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday week.

The Australians will have a good idea of what to expect at Eden Park, having defeated the Black caps there by 12 runs in game two last Saturday coming off the hosts' first-up win in Napier.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was delighted with his team's form in Hamilton, in particular Brad Haddin's 110, his ODI personal-best and the platform on which the Aussies' successful run-chase was built.

But Ponting will be taking nothing for granted in Auckland.

The Black Caps appear likely to recast their batting order with opener Peter Ingram, who has made 40, 14 and five in the series, a strong chance to make way.

That would potentially mean a move up the order for New Zealand's cleanest hitters and the batsmen Australia respect most, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris and skipper Daniel Vettori.

Taylor top-scored in Hamilton with a punishing 62, while Styris has amassed 126 runs in the series at an average of 62 batting at No.6.

Australia has won 10 of the 15 ODI matches it's played against New Zealand at Eden Park since the first meeting there in February, 1982.

Team news

New Zealand have some injury worries but have not cut any players from the squad. So they have 15 men in the group and any number of combinations is possible, depending on whether Franklin or Tuffey, or both, recover in time for Thursday's game.

Squad (from): DL Vettori (capt), SE Bond, NT Broom, JEC Franklin, MJ Guptill, GJ Hopkins (wk), PJ Ingram, BB McCullum (wk), NL McCullum, MJ Mason, TG Southee, SL Stewart, SB Styris, LRPL Taylor, DR Tuffey 

Australia: Clarke has gone home and has been replaced in the squad by the Tasmania batsman George Bailey but after the thumping win in Hamilton it's hard to see any changes being made to Australia's starting line-up.

Squad (from): RT Ponting (capt), GJ Bailey, DE Bollinger, BJ Haddin (wk), RJ Harris, NM Hauritz, JR Hopes, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, CJ McKay, AC Voges, SR Watson, CL White

Pitch and conditions
New Zealand enjoy this small ground, which doubles as a rugby union field, and think their local knowledge is a big bonus. "There's some funny angles, I like it for the areas I hit," Gareth Hopkins said. "Dan [Vettori] likes it as well. The weather forecast for Auckland on Thursday is for cloudy periods with evening showers and a top temperature of 24 degrees.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have won 28 of 61 ODIs at Eden Park, but only three of those successes have occurred in the past five years
• Daniel Vettori, who scored 70 there on Saturday, is only 155 runs short of joining the elite ODI group of players to have 2000 runs and 200 wickets. There are currently only 11 other members
• Cameron White's strike-rate of 221.05 from his 42 off 19 balls in 2007 is the second highest strike-rate for an innings at the stadium, but it didn't help Australia win

Match facts
Thursday, March 11, 2010 (day/night)
Start time 14:00 local (01:00 GMT)