Canterbury is taking the chance to make an assessment for its future with its selections for two games against Zimbabwe this week.

Canterbury Cricket Association chief executive Tony Murdoch said today it had always been planned by the selectors to test the ability of some of the promising players in the region against quality international opposition.

"They are looking five years out," Murdoch said, "and there is an evaluation process that is part of their thinking.

All but one of the players named for the two games, a day-night match on Tuesday and a three-day game starting on Thursday, are existing squad members.

The other is Canterbury Country batsman Harley James who scored a half century against Zimbabwe two years ago.

Chris Cairns has been named in the one-day side as a batsman only and as a forerunner to his likely inclusion in two Canterbury Shell Cup matches after Christmas.

It was intended that none of Canterbury's other Black Caps would be included but the selectors have acceded to a request from New Zealand Cricket that Nathan Astle be named in the three-day side.

The two sides for the games are:

Tuesday - Gary Stead (captain), Brad Doody, Hamish Barton, Mark Hastings, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Aaron Redmond, Michael Papps, Carl Anderson, Warren Wisneski, Haydn Shaw, Cleighten Cornelius.

Thursday-Saturday - Gary Stead (captain), Robbie Frew, Nathan Astle, Jarron Englefield, Harley James, Shane Bond, Wade Cornelius, Warren Wisneski, Carl Anderson, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Barton, Gareth Hopkins, Marcel McKenzie.

© CricInfo