Star returns for Mitchell Cup

A familiar face will line up in the Harcourts Eden Epsom women's team for the 2014 Mitchell Cup this weekend - the annual battle for New Zealand squash club supremacy.

Former world number one Carol Owens has been named at number two for the title favorites, who have rising teenage star Ellie Epke at number one.

The Auckland club also boasts another rising star in Hayley Hughes at number three.

Eden Epsom's strength in depth makes them top seeds for the teams event, ahead of North Shore which boasts another teenage star in Abbie Palmer at number one and the experience of Lisa Cowlard at two.

Those two sides are expected to battle for the title, although third seeds Remuera may fancy their chances of being in the mix with five A-graders in their line-up too.

Meanwhile, there is also a familiar face in the men's Cousins Shield competition, with former world number three Stuart Davenport dusting off his racquet to line up for Khandallah.

However, the title is being tipped as a North-South battle between Herne Bay Ponsonby and Squashways in Christchurch.

Herne Bay Ponsonby has top billing after drafting Australian Nathan Stevenson into their line-up.  Stevenson is backed by an impressive looking team that includes George Crosby, Chris Lloyd, Jared Conning and Matiu Te Kani-McQueen.

Squashways looks equally impressive with New Zealand's biggest rising star Paul Coll leading the southern charge. The Christchurch club also has an Australian in its line-up with Andrew Fraser at two and looks very strong down the order with A1s Chris van der Salm and Oliver Johnston at three and four respectively.

It would also be dangerous to write off the chances of third seeds SquashGym.  The Palmerston North side won the title in 2009 and will be led by former world number 36 Kashif Shuja.  He'll be well supported by Josh Greenfield at number two and with another four A Graders in the line-up they are a dangerous proposition for either the top two seeds.

The Mitchell Cup and Cousins Shield get underway at the Burnside Club in Christchurch at 2pm tomorrow.  Competition will continue throughout the weekend, with finals scheduled for 2pm Sunday.  Entry for spectators is free.

Seedings

Mitchell Cup (women)
1. Harcourts Eden Epsom
2. North Shore
3. Remuera
4. SquashGym
5. Cambridge

Cousins Shield (men)
1. Herne Bay Ponsonby
2. Squashways
3. SquashGym
4. Remuera
5. North Shore
6. Henderson
7. Christchurch Football
8. Manurewa
9. Khandallah
10. Marlborough
11. Royal Oak
12. Christchurch
13. Cambridge
14. Eden Epsom
15.Devonport
16. Hamilton

Full teams/draw: http://www.squashnz.co.nz/news/index.cfm?content_id=129