King, ranked number five in the world, is not surprisingly the red hot favourite to win the women's open.  Her biggest threat will be fellow touring pro Amanda Landers-Murphy, who is the world number 37.  Ellie Epke and Rebecca Barnett round out the top four seeds as they prepare for the Junior Women's World Championships in Poland next month, while their fellow New Zealand team members Abbie Palmer and Hayley Hughes are also in the draw.

Knight is also tipped to win the men's draw with ease, with his main rival Campbell Grayson still out with an injury he suffered at the recent Men's World Team Championships in France.  The other two members of the New Zealand team, Evan Williams and Paul Coll, are also sitting out the Cambridge event, taking a much needed breather after a grueling schedule over the last few weeks.

That has left the title wide open for Knight, although second seed Christopher Lloyd, a former touring pro, will be determined to give him a run for his money.  Likewise third and fourth seeds Michael Sunderland and Chris van der Salm have international experience and will fancy their chances of an upset.

The North Island Championships get underway tomorrow night.  For full draws: http://crc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/North-Island-Draws.pdf.

Round One

1. Joelle King (Waikato) BYE

Nadine Cull (Waikato) vs Hayley Hughes (Auckland)

Joanna Shanks (Auckland) vs Tania Frederiks (Waikato)

4. Rebecca Barnett (Central) vs Ellen Verry (Wellington)

3. Ellie Epke (Auckland) vs Anna Hughes (Auckland)

Tracey Kimble (Auckland) vs Abbie Palmer (Auckland)

Alana Sincock (Bay of Plenty) vs Georgina Shelton-Agar (Auckland)

2. Amanda Landers-Murphy (Bay of Plenty) BYE

Round One

1. Martin Knight (Auckland) vs Stephen Oxenham (Waikato)

Aaron Kopittke (Auckland) vs Eugene Black (Bay of Plenty)

Matiu Te Kani-McQueen (Auckland) vs Michael Martin (Waikato)

4. Chris van der Salm (Midlands) vs Richard Pittams (Wellington)

3. Michael Sunderland (Auckland) vs Ben Calvert (Waikato)

Edward Dromgool (Wellington) vs Ben Grindrod (Bay of Plenty)

Michael Pittams (Auckland) vs James Skiffington (Wellington)

2. Christopher Lloyd (Auckland) vs Jason Baty (Eastern)