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An inter-island cricket match at Jade Stadium on April 24, featuring New Zealand's leading players, will be the focal point of Chris Harris's benefit season.

Finding a suitable date during the intensive international season for the North-South game had proved a problem, so the organising committee settled on the late April date, one of the latest cricket playing dates in New Zealand history.

The New Zealand players will all be in Christchurch at that time, preparing for the World Cup, and are seeking match play.

``A North-South game to be played seriously should be a great trial,''said Chris Herbert, an organiser of the benefit match.

``We are taking a bit of a risk with the weather but there is no Super 12 rugby at the ground in April so a pitch will be made available,'' Herbert said.

The Black Caps are looking for late season match play in New Zealand to emulate conditions they are likely to experience in early spring in England, with the World Cup being staged during May and June.