A partner for Nathan Astle in the rapidly approaching five- game one-day BNZ series is still to be finalised and selection panel convener Ross Dykes said yesterday nothing had been settled yet.

``From the performances seen so far this season no-one has written their name on the position.''

Howell was the incumbent last season in New Zealand against Zimbabwe and Australia before being sidelined late in the season with a shoulder injury, which required off-season surgery.

Dykes said Howell was still a contender, but would need early runs in the Shell Cup competition and would need to prove that his shoulder was capable of withstanding the rigours of fielding at international level.

Howell withdrew from the Conference series in November because his shoulder was not strong enough for throwing and has been restricted to a diet of Cricket Max and club play.

Dykes said the one-day team will be named during next week's third test against India in Hamilton.

Among the contenders apart from Howell, Dykes nominated Matthew Horne, Matthew Bell, Mark Bailey, Craig Spearman, Mathew Sinclair, and Roger Twose. Dykes confirmed that all-rounder Chris Cairns was a name which had been bandied about.

``It depends on the style of game we are wanting to play. We want to be attacking in the first 15 overs, but not at any cost,'' Dykes said. ``I think we have to be a little more conservative in New Zealand conditions than say on the sub-continent.''

This season New Zealand has tried both Horne and Bell with Astle with minimal success. Bailey was tried with Spearman and Horne when New Zealand A met Pakistan A as the selectors cast their net. The Northern Districts player produced scores of 7, 41, and 25 in that series.

Another top-order batting area yet to be settled is the No. 5 position, Dykes said, with Adam Parore and Cairns contenders.