The seventh and eighth rounds were exciting and incalcuable throughout, but, at the end of it all, Tuesday's teams, Canterbury and Otago, have swapped positions, and fortunes, in the Shell Cup.

The Cup ninth round clash at Jade Stadium will finish some time around 10pm, and if Canterbury win again on Thursday, they will have reached the semi-finals once more.

A week ago, the red and blacks had won a single game this season, and were about to lose to Central Districts in the Trophy. All their cricket since has been worthy of a team that has fought valiantly against injuries and unavailabilities.

Coach Garry MacDonald has said that "younger players have probably had more opportunities in Canterbury than they would have received elsewhere because things change so much."

Twenty-four have represented the province, showing the strength in depth that the Second XI's recent victory in the national Provincial 'A' tournament indicates.

Otago and Lee Germon. Two names that do not readily fit together. The face of Canterbury's triumphant rise through the late eighties and into the nineties is now back with old Canterbury coach, Denis Aberhart, and with Glenn Turner, down south in Dunedin.

He revisits Jade Stadium as a player for the first time in three years. The last time the wicketkeeper turned specialist captain played, the ground had a stand called the No 4, an embankment and was known by another name.

Lancaster Park, scene of New Zealand's first Test victory against three different countries, is now flanked by the unlovely DB stand, and a building site. The wicket is a portable block, and the spectators are largely gone.

But the old Germon spirit remains, personified in hardy wicketkeeper, Gareth Hopkins, and Gary Stead, who embodies all you could ask for in a Canterbury captain.

Hopkins has saved or won matches almost as often this season as Stead. They have received little support from the other batsmen, Chris Harris excused. The bowlers have often left Canterbury in winning positions, with Carl Anderson's spin and the quicker stuff of Ryan Burson, Stephen Cunis and Chris Martin most impressive.

It was again the bowlers who dominated against Northern Districts, last Sunday. Anderson went for a mere 16 off eight, and hit the winning runs. The unique charm of Harris (what will New Zealand cricket do without him?) saw the side home for the umpteenth time. Hopkins helped him, and seems set to become a Canterbury institution. They are a characterful lot; Martin so laid back that even the umpires have noticed he only bothers to appeal if he really thinks it's out, Doody the loyal gundog, McMillan the gladiator, Wisneski the bull.

But what of the Otagoans? They have Timaruvian Craig Cumming, another Canterbury old boy, plus Test opening incumbents, Mark Richardson and Matthew Horne. Chris Gaffaney hit 78 in Otago's win over today's opposition, at Alexandra last month. Paul Wiseman bowled in the latest ODI, but is so much better on an older pitch. Shayne O'Connor has the injury curse of New Zealand's quicks, which Canterbury's Geoff Allott and Christopher Cairns are also suffering from.

If Canterbury can take advantage of the roll they are on, the reward is the semi-finals. Coach Garry MacDonald and captain Gary Stead have both exclaimed, contrastingly, their certainty that Canterbury have the capability for Cup success once more.

© CricInfo