Last season Phoenix’s form fluctuated widely, with periods when they in contention for top honours to others when they were trying to avoid falling into the relegation zone. In the end they finished in 6th place [just].

This season sees four imports [two from New Zealand and two from South Africa]. Alex Kervelas replaces his brother who had such a good season last year and helped get Phoenix off to a great start with some excellent all-round performances. So no pressure then.

The overseas player is Brad Kneebone who is an opening bat who has played for Northland Cricket. He is accompanied by fellow club man from Onerahi Cricket Club, Fletcher Coutts. Also coming into the squad is Sinesipho Tsotsa, recently graduated from Muir College where he will have met many young cricketers from Ireland. These come into a squad that has been weakened by the loss of Nicholaas Pretorius [who has returned to The Hills] but can still rely on a strong kernel that have emerged from their youth section over the past few years - the Anders brothers, Ben White, Adam Chester, Stephen Black.

The pundits have suggested that Phoenix will be one of the teams fighting to avoid relegation this season - but that could apply to just about anyone andBrad Kneebone [ until we see how the new look side performs nobody really knows. This weekend they take on YMCA in Claremont.