The first genuine after-effects of New Zealand's success in winning the CricInfo Women's World Cup last summer are reflected in the expected improved strength of teams taking part in the State League series starting tomorrow.

The month long competition begins tomorrow with two games in the South Island. Last year's beaten finalists Canterbury play Wellington at the Village Green in Christchurch and Otago play Central Districts at Logan Park in Dunedin.

The teams will play each other again on Sunday. Four more games will be played on Monday and Tuesday.

Auckland's CLEAR White Fern laden team is expected to dominate the League.

Their first games are not until next weekend when they play Canterbury first up. But with Kathryn Ramel leading the side again, and Emily Drumm, Rebecca Rolls and Helen Watson in the line-up they have a core of expertise that will be hard to lower.

Wellington has made an all out bid to increase its strength. Maia Lewis will play again and if able to gain her best touches will be a formidable wicket for opponents to claim. Losi Harford has joined the side under the draft system while Anna O'Leary and Anna Corbin are home grown talents with plenty to offer.

Corbin did very well on her first tour with the national side in Queensland and if able to bowl to significant totals could have a big series.

Wellington performed well in the national Under-21 tournament where Frances King was named the player of the tournament. Megan Wakefield has moved from Timaru to Wellington and she gave the Under-21s some oomph at the top of the batting order although it is not certain where she will bat for Wellington.

Megan Tuapawa, Amanda Green and Amanda Cooper will be backed up by Jane Hunter-Siu who has returned after a season off.

Otago have beefed up their team as well. Sarah Helmore has been picked up through the draft system from Canterbury while Netherlands captain Pauline te Beest will join international team-mate and local Rowan Milburn in the batting line-up, with Rachel Pullar to lead the attack. The Kane sisters, Megan and Alana, are also expected to play a big part in the side. Katey Martin scored the only century of the Under-21 tournament and made a good impression with the Otago side.

Northern Districts have gone for youth with their team which includes nine members of their Under-21 side. They have taken Rosamund Kember from the draft. The Aucklander could strengthen the batting of the side while Catherine Spence is another key member of the side.

Louise Milliken and Nicola Browne have been two potentially good pace bowlers who have been hamstrung by rarely having a total large enough to defend.

ND achieved some fine performances last summer and while the Under-19s finished fifth at the latest tournament there are hopes the players can lift significantly.

But in all probability if any side is going to end Auckland's dominance it will be the Paula Flannery-led Canterbury team. Backed up by Haidee Tiffen, Nicola Payne, Fiona Fraser, Sarah Burke and Emily Travers they have a strong unit.

Add to that the returning former CLEAR White Ferns Helen Daly (nee Bastion), a left-arm medium slow formerly from Northern Districts, and Delwyn Brownlee, and up and coming players like Rebecca Steele, Maria Fahey and Hannah Rae and there is clear sign of potential.

Coaching the side is former international Vicki Burtt, and coached Canterbury to the national Under-21 title last year.

Central Districts will be a young side but for all that their players have been exposed to a lot of cricket.

Kate Pulford will captain the side and Abby Burrows will provide her with good support. Erin McDonald brings White Ferns experience to the team while Megan Graham and Aimee Mason will have important roles to play.

Central Districts play Otago first in the series and then meet Canterbury on Monday and Tuesday.

© CricInfo