Training alone during the winter can only do so much in helping ready the Auckland Aces for the upcoming domestic cricket season

The Auckland and Northern Districts men's and women's sides will miss the opening rounds of the season due to Covid alert level lockdowns.

The summer begins on October 23, but the Aces will need to wait until round three to begin their Plunket Shield campaign.

Coach Heinrich Malan says players have adjusted well to training in their own bubble, but he concedes they're missing bat versus ball action.