Volts coach Vaughn Johnson has spent the past two weeks urging his side to stay positive but also to exercise discipline and remain patient. Four-day cricket is more about the percentages and maintaining a consistent effort than it is about explosive short bursts.
That, rather than revenge, has been the focus, Johnson said. Otago let an opportunity to potentially win the first-class competition slip away when it was bowled out for 145 chasing a modest 200 for victory against Wellington on the last day of the season.
''I hadn't even thought of that,'' Johnson replied when asked whether it would form part of his side's motivation.
''Our motivation is to show that we can adapt from a lot of twenty20 cricket back to the four-day game. We've played up to 20 games in the last two months, so our focus is on trying to hit day one in Wellington in four-day mode. We want to play the game with the same sort of outlook. We want to be positive but obviously we need to pull back a bit.
''It is a big game for us, really. Wellington is always very strong at the beginning of the season and we've got a couple of defections through Black Cap commitments, so it will be a real good test for these guys.''
Wellington has eight past or present Black Caps in its side. Former Black Cap Michael Papps was one of the form openers last season with 810 runs at an average of 45. Wicketkeeper batsman Luke Ronchi, who has played limited-overs cricket for Australia and New Zealand, also impressed with the blade, scoring 807 runs at 62.07, including four centuries. The Firebirds' bowling looks menacing as well. Brent Arnel and Mark Gillespie were joint leading wicket-takers last season with 45 scalps.
For Otago, batsman Aaron Redmond had a terrific season. He was the competition's leading scorer with 941 runs at 55.35. Seamer Ian Butler might have topped the wicket-taking chart had he not received a late-season call-up for the national side. He took 39 at 25.12 and was the form bowler in the competition.
Neil Broom is filling the vacancy left by Hamish Rutherford at the top of the order. He has batted in the middle order his entire career but hopes the move will revive his international career.
Left-armer Bradley Scott returns after spending the past five years in Hamilton playing for Northern Districts. He is likely to find himself bowling into the wind.
Jesse Ryder will make his debut for Otago. The classy left-hander had a bowl in the nets and may get a stint at the crease against his former side as well.
Twenty20 is the pinnacle in New Zealand domestic cricket these days but Johnson rates the first-class competition as the hardest to win.
''You need a lot of luck in four-day cricket with the venues and with the weather. But you also need to play in a way in which you can get 20 wickets. The days of trying not to lose are gone as far as I'm concerned. You've actually got to be prepared to lose to win.''
Otago has not won the first-class title since 1987-88.
Plunket Shield: Basine Reserve, starting tomorrow
Otago: Aaron Redmond, Neil Broom, Michael Bracewell, Jesse Ryder, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), Iain Robertson, Mark Craig, Ian Butler, Bradley Scott, Blair Soper, Jacob Duffy.
Wellington: James Franklin (captain), Brent Arnel, Josh Brodie, Mark Gillespie, Andrew Lamb, Andy McKay, Stephen Murdoch, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Luke Ronchi, Luke Woodcock.
