Kernaghan (59) will be a key member of Gary Lawson's composite team that is the favourite to win the men's fours title.
The Eastbourne bowler has won two World Bowls titles and is one of New Zealand's most successful international bowlers.
Lawson (49) has also performed with distinction on the national front and has won 10 titles at the New Zealand open championships.
He won his 10th title in the pairs with Dan Delany (Auckland) in 2010, and shares the record with the legendary Nick Unkovich (Auckland), who won his 10th title in the fours in 1986.
Lawson has a strong team, the other players being former Dunedin bowler Ben King at lead and Black Jack Dan Delany at two.
Kernaghan is the most reliable and consistent player in New Zealand bowls and will add stability to Lawson's team.
If Lawson gets the record, Kernaghan will also reach a milestone and gain his fifth national open title and his gold star.
He won back-to-back singles titles in 2001 and 2002, the pairs with Dave Archer (Taieri) in Dunedin in 2007, and was a key member of Andrew Kelly's (Redcliffs) winning fours team last season.
Kernaghan has played with Lawson in the past but this will be the first time the pair have been together at the national championships.
''It will be a new experience for me,'' Kernaghan said.
''Gary's a very good bowler ... We see the game in a similar way. I'm looking forward to it.
''If we were successful and Gary got that record it would be neat to be part of that.''
Kernaghan completed his set of national open bowls titles last season when he was in the winning fours team in Dunedin.
In Auckland, he will also play in the singles, and the pairs with Delany.
Kernaghan won the fours title in January and this season won the invitation singles at the North East Valley club.
He demonstrated his talent last weekend when he beat double national singles champion Shaun Scott (North East Valley) 25-22 in the singles to help Kaikorai qualify for the zone six national club finals.
The TAB also ranks Lawson top in the singles and pairs.
King is his pairs partner. Kernaghan is ranked fourth in the singles and pairs.
Other contenders for the singles title are Rob Ashton (Carlton-Cornwall), Australian-based Black Jack Richard Girvan and Petar Sain (Carlton-Cornwall), who won the title in 1991 and 2000.
Sandra Keith (Dunsandel) has a point to prove after missing selection for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Keith (46) won the singles title in 2012 and went on to win the world champion of champions singles title.
She won the pairs with clubmate Serena Matthews the following year.
Other Otago bowlers competing include defending pairs champion Carolyn Crawford (St Clair), Rebecca Jelley (North East Valley), Andy McLean (North East Valley), Mark Watt (Nelson Bay, Australia), South Otago's Bob McAuley, and the Central Otago four of Pat Houlahan (Alexandra), Allan Brash (Arrowtown), Alistair Watson (Clyde) and Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (Gore).
NZ bowls championships
December 28-January 9
Venue: Brown's Bay Club (headquarters), Auckland.
Key days: Singles and pairs finals, January 4; fours final, January 9.
Record titles (10): Nick Unkovich (Auckland): Singles (1979), pairs (1991), fours (1971, 1975, 1979, 1981-82, 1984-86).
Gary Lawson (Canterbury and Wellington): Singles (1989, 1994), pairs (1997, 2008, 2010), fours (1993-94, 1996-97, 2004).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Gary Lawson (Eastbourne) is seeking a record 11th New Zealand open title.
2. Mike Kernaghan (Kaikorai) needs one more title for his fifth national title and gold star.
3. Sandra Keith (Dunsandel) has a point to prove after missing selection for the Commonwealth Games.
4. Commonwealth Games representative Mandy Boyd (Burnside) is chasing her third fours title.
