Chris Harris' selection for the Test team recognised all he has done for Canterbury, his coach Michael Sharpe said today.

"It's hard for us but good for Harry," Sharpe said. He takes his team into the ninth round State Championship game against Auckland tomorrow still with a chance of taking the trophy.

Warren Wisneski (hamstring strain) and Harris are replaced by Cleighten Cornelius and Marcel McKenzie in the Canterbury squad.

"It's an important game and we need to keep working hard," said first year Canterbury coach Sharpe, who has seen his side win three times in the Championship this season after a two year spell without a win.

"It looks a good deck (at Christchurch's Village Green) and there should be a lot of runs. The Championship, which requires Canterbury to win its last two games and for other results to go its way is "definitely" still on, "but we need things to happen," said Sharpe.

Meanwhile, Auckland have been forced to make several changes from the team which beat Central Districts in Palmerston North last week.

Chris Drum, Lou Vincent, Matt Horne and Mark Richardson are on Test duty while Sam Whiteman is still recovering from a back injury.

Into the team come Tama Canning, Bradley Nielsen, Sanjeewa Silva, Rob Lynch and Nick Horsley. Nielsen, from the Howick Pakuranga club, and Lynch (Cornwall) make their debut for the State Auckland Aces.

The teams are:

Canterbury: Gary Stead (captain), Shanan Stewart, Robbie Frew, Michael Papps, Peter Fulton, Aaron Redmond, Marcel McKenzie, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Ryan Burson, Wade Cornelius, Cleighten Cornelius.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (captain), Andre Adams, Tama Canning, Nick Horsley, Llorne Howell, Tim McIntosh, Rob Lynch, Bradley Nielsen, Rob Nicol, Gareth Shaw, Sanjeewa Silva, Reece Young.

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