Winning all three domestic trophies in one season is devilishly hard; so difficult, in fact, that no team has managed it in the time there have been contested.
That said, it's not impossible. However, only Auckland can achieve the feat this season, courtesy of their win in the Twenty20 final at New Plymouth.
Auckland finished runners-up in all three last season, so they're ahead of the ledger already this season.
They will set off in pursuit of the 50-over Ford Trophy crown when they play Otago at Alexandra's Molyneux Park tomorrow.
Auckland are without regular captain Rob Nicol, who damaged a knee cartilage in the T20 final against Canterbury, so aggressive left-hander Colin Munro leads the side.
He has opener Jeet Raval, big-hitting allrounder Colin de Grandhomme and busy wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Cachopa as his lieutenants.
There are newer faces looking to make themselves part of the Auckland furniture in the seasons ahead, including last year's Young Player at Lord's, Sean Hicks, a national under-19 representative, another former under-19 player Glenn Phillips, and Hong Kong international, left-hander Mark Chapman.
Auckland are without Otago v Auckland internationals Martin Guptill and Mitch McClenaghan but there's a good feeling in the group, which is what success can do.
"It's like anything," Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said of his recipe for 50-over success.
"You need to start well, you need wickets in hand and you need partnerships with the bat. And you need your big dogs to stand up.
"In that [T20] final, it was pleasing both Nicol and McClenaghan put in really top performances. You get three guys doing that and some useful cameos around them and generally you're in a pretty good position."
Otago look a solid outfit, with past and present internationals Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig and Neil Wagner in their line-up.
There are eight rounds of matches, the top four make the playoffs, with the final on January 30.
In the other first round games, defending champions Central Districts play Canterbury in Napier, and Wellington host Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve.
Ford Trophy, first round, Alexandra, 11am tomorrow
Auckland: Colin Munro (c), Jeet Raval, Glenn Phillips, Colin de Grandhomme, Brad Cachopa, Robbie O'Connell, Sean Hicks, Mark Chapman, Donovan Grobelaar, Tarun Nethula, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Quinn.
Otago: Hamish Rutherford (c), Warren Barnes, Brad Wilson, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Anaru Kitchen, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Bradley Scott.
