Otago opening batsman Camden Hawkins has fractured a bone in his right hand and may miss the Volts first home game later next week.
The gutsy 24-year-old was injured on day two of Otago's Plunket Shield match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
Despite the injury he went out to bat yesterday with the hope of holding up an end and getting his side through to some sort of target.
His brave effort went unrewarded, though. Otago was dismissed for 219 in its second innings.
That left the Firebirds chasing a modest 47 for victory. Otago captain Jacob Duffy captured two more wickets to go with the seven he accumulated in the first innings.
His match haul of nine for 106 was a career best, but the home team won by eight wickets.
All-rounder Malcolm Nofal was one of the stars for Wellington. The left arm spinner claimed seven for 30 in the match, while Devon Conway's 96 with the bat helped set up an impressive 173 runs first innings lead.
Wellington's powerful bowling line-up was not going to surrender a lead like that on home turf.
''We certainly showed signs of improvement,'' Otago coach Rob Walter said.
''We had an opportunity to score more runs in the first innings but some guys made some poor decisions and got out.
''That put us on the back foot pretty early. And from a bowling point of view we tried too much too early.
''We were too far behind. We wanted to get into a position where they had to chase maybe 150 to see where that left us.''
Otago debutants Nick Kelly and Dean Foxcroft showed promise. Kelly returned scores of 37 and 40, while Foxcroft grabbed two wickets and scored a half-century in the second innings.
Fellow newbies Dale Phillips and Travis Muller did not go as well. Phillips missed out twice with the bat, while Muller was expensive with one for 75 from 14 overs.
The obvious highlight from Otago's point of view was Duffy's spell with the second new ball. He took six quick wickets and was, for a time, unplayable.
If Hawkins is ruled out for the match against Auckland at the University of Otago Oval beginning on Wednesday, Walter suggested he might be replaced by a spinner depending on what the pitch offers ''and just change the batting line-up a bit''.
Anaru Kitchen missed selection, but he is an experienced middle order batsman and useful spinner. He could slot into the side.
The rest of the top order could shuffle up a spot.
Seamer Matt Bacon was 12th man but might get the nod ahead of Muller, who struggled to make an impact.
-In the other games, Northern Districts is 392 for five in reply to Canterbury's 390. Tim Seifert notched a ton and Daryl Mitchell is undefeated on 112.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland leads Central Districts by 175 runs with three second innings wickets in hand.
