Northern Star could claim Newcrest Mining’s mantle as the biggest gold producer on the ASX under an accelerated five-year growth plan published on the same day the company sold $400 million of West Australian gold assets to Evolution Mining.

Northern Star will explain on Friday how it plans to increase production by 26 per cent over the next five years, putting it on track to produce 2 million ounces of gold a year by 2025-26.