Northerns top-order, often under pressure to produce big first innings scores this season and now faced with the challenge of picking up four batting points against Natal, have a noon-day session with their coach Peter Kirsten at Centurion Park today.

While the Titans coach yesterday outlined his views on how they are to achieve the 300 plus target in 100 overs, the theory stops today when he gives the bowlers the day off and prepares to take the top eight batsmen through the plan of attack to earn the four points from the A Section game starting tomorrow.

Although he feels 36 points from Northerns remaining two matches of the SuperSport Series is a realistic target, he also knows how tough it is going to be: eight batting points from two matches he knows is a tall order. Yet he feels the batsmen have the capabilities to build 300 plus first innings scores.

``It would be nice to pick up between 36 and 30 points,'' he said yesterday. ``I am confident it cane be done. What needs to be done is scoring at three or more runs an over. Going over the top on occasions should also be part of the game plan, so if we can cash in big, why not.''

The trick is, of course winning the toss and batting first.

With Gauteng likely to produce a surface to suit their spinners to get what advantage they can out of the game against Eastern Province, also starting tomorrow, and Eastern Province no doubt planing a greentop at St George's Park against Natal in the final round of league games, Northerns are looking hard at their options.

It was the green top and Myerick Pringle's ability to swing the ball, which flattened Northerns batting points hopes in Port Elizabeth in the first A Section match of the season. Since then Kirsten has been working on building up the confidence of the batsmen, with the key members being Mike Rindel and Martin van Jaarsveld, who have managed to put big runs on the board. In Rindel's case it rescued Northerns against Griqualand West in Kimberley.

And it is Western Province's game against Griquas in Kimberley where Kirsten will also be keeping a close watch. He knows how hard it can be to win in such an unforgiving in terms of heat and playing conditions. The fewer bonus points they can achieve the easier it could become for Northerns.

``Okay, we have made it hard for ourselves, but I am confident where we are heading,'' he said. ``It is up to us now and the carrot of a place in the final is a juicy one.''

Natal have had their problems this season and the injury to the classic Andrew Hudson has compounded further woes on a side which has done much yet find themselves clinging desperately to the second bottom rung of the log, looking for an extra step up but failing in their footing. Their young side is certainly far better then their current log position suggests.

Northerns B will be led by Rudolf Steyn when they play Natal B at Kingsmead in the UCB Bowl Division 1 three-day game starting tomorrow.

Teams:

Northerns (from): Quentin Still, Deon Jordaan, Roy Pienaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Gerald Dros, Mike Rindel, Dirkie de Vos, Grant Morgan, Mark Davis (capt), Quentin Ferreira, Greg Smith, David Townsend.

Northerns B (from): Rudolf Steyn (capt), Gift Pedi, Pierre de Bruyn, Dennis Smith, Mark Conyers, Pierre Joubert, Rudi Bryson, Nico Martin, Gerhard Diest, Jan Botha