Otago wrist spinner Michael Rippon will sit out the last game of the season.
The Volts have made four changes for their game against Central Districts in Palmerston North starting today.
Opener Jacob Cumming returns to the line-up. He replaces Glenn Phillips who has Black Caps commitments.
Seamers Travis Muller and Jarrod McKay make way for Matt Bacon and Andrew Hazeldine, and left-arm spinner Ben Lockrose gets an opportunity at the expense of Rippon, who has been struggling to find form.
Rippon (31) has been a regular in the Volts line-up and a reliable source of wickets.
Since joining the province in 2016-17, he has taken 105 wickets at average of 34.96 and scored 1760 runs at 28.38.
But his form with the red ball dipped in the second half of the campaign.
He went wicketless against Canterbury in Dunedin and also failed to pick up a wicket against Auckland in Alexandra last week.
In fact, he has just two wickets in the last three games and he has not been able to make an impact with the bat either.
Volts coach Dion Ebrahim said the conditions at Fitzherbert Park would suit finger-spinner Lockrose better, but he also acknowledged Rippon’s form did not warrant selection.
"He was hugely disappointed to miss out on selection but he fully understands the rationale behind it," Ebrahim said.
"He also understands that this non-selection is by no means an indication of where he sits in terms of our No1 spinner. He is still a genuine match-winning spinner in all three formats and he is fully aware of that.
"But the transition back into red-ball cricket has not gone as smooth as he would have liked or we would have like, although I reiterate the conditions have not suited him."
The decision to replace Muller and McKay was just about providing opportunities for Bacon and Hazeldine. Bacon has not played any first-class cricket since November 2021, and Hazeldine has been injured and has been short of cricket.
"Going into this last game, our philosophy has shifted from playing a consistent team to looking ahead to next season.
"Travis Muller has been fantastic with the ball ... so this was a team-first decision."
Otago captain Hamish Rutherford has retained his place despite a dismal run of form in the Plunket Shield. The experienced left-hander has scored just 169 runs at 14.08, while Jacob Duffy might have been due a rest given he has bowled more balls (1547) than anyone else in the competition this season.
However, he is also the leading wicket-taker with 29 at 29.65.
It is a big game for Central Districts, third in the Plunket Shield standings with a game in hand.
The Stags are handing first caps to Jack Boyle and Toby Findlay.
Plunket Shield
Palmerston North, 10.30am
Otago: Hamish Rutherford (captain), Jacob Cumming, Dean Foxcroft, Thorn Parkes, Dale Phillips, Jake Gibson, Max Chu, Andrew Hazeldine, Ben Lockrose, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Matt Bacon.
Central Districts: Greg Hay (captain), Tom Bruce, Jack Boyle, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Toby Findlay, Curtis Heaphy, Ajaz Patel, Brett Randell, Brad Schmulian,
Bevan Small, Ray Toole.
