Otago will play five warm-up matches against a combined New Zealand and Northern Districts team in Tauranga in mid-August in preparation for its tilt at the twenty20 Champions League in India in September.
The Volts have made it through to the qualifying stage of the lucrative tournament thanks to their victory in the New Zealand domestic tournament last summer.
They will play the Faisalabad Wolves (Pakistan), the Sunrisers Hyderabad (Indian Premier League team) and the Dhaka Gladiators (Bangladesh) in round-robin matches. The top two teams progress to the group stage.
Otago gained direct entry to the group stage in 2009 but struggled to compete and lost both games.
This time the association hopes to be better prepared and should field a more competitive unit.
The Volts will assemble early next month and leave for Tauranga on August 18.
Coach Vaughn Johnson said the city was about the only place in New Zealand where the Volts could hope to play on grass wickets in mid-August.
The squad will be missing its overseas players Ryan ten Doeschate, Brett Lee and James Fuller. Brendon McCullum is also unavailable and his older brother, Nathan, may also be absent.
''We are just working through who is available at the moment,'' Johnson said.
''Obviously, the pros won't be available and neither will Brendon and possibly Nathan. We'll probably only take 10 of the squad up there but will take some youngsters up just to fill the gaps.''
Johnson said it had not been finalised whether the Volts would head straight to India or go to Sri Lanka first to complete their preparation.
The qualifying tournament begins on September 16 but the draw is still to be finalised. It is possible Otago could be expected to play some warm-up games in India.
''We'll probably leave New Zealand around the 1st or the 2nd of September and head to Sri Lanka and have a week there before we head to India on about the 10th or 12th.
''There is opposition getting organised at the moment and they will consist of local Sri Lankan first-class teams.''
As for Otago's prospects, much will depend on which overseas players are available.
''At the moment ten Doeschate and Fuller are involved with Essex and Gloucestershire [respectively]. It really depends on how their teams are going in the Championship, which is the four-day competition, because they play right through to the end of September.
''We can't do anything about that. They are contracted to their counties and they will have first call on them. It is up to Essex and Gloucestershire but we are in constant communication with them.''
And Lee?
''We are still waiting on his availability. He has a bit on about that time of the year ... but we hope that he will be available.
''To be able to take a side over with those three players would be the icing on the cake. But, when you have professionals, you have to work in with what they are doing at that time of the year.''
