It has been hard to find something to smile at in the past few weeks. The Volts suffered three close losses in a row and watched their one-day playoff prospects almost slip away completely.
A loss against Auckland in Invercargill on Wednesday would have ended their hopes. Instead, they kept those hopes alive with a 43-run win by the Duckworth-Lewis method.
''I don't think we lost our confidence with the way we were playing,'' interim coach Nathan King said.
''But I certainly would say that win meant a little bit more to the guys than what some of the previous wins have, based on the boys' reaction after the game. It was not so much out of relief - [they were] more proud of what they had achieved.
''It was a very good day batting-wise on a wicket which was a little bit tricky right throughout the innings. So that was really pleasing but we have batted well all season, so it was just carrying on that form, really.
''Bowling-wise, we certainly made an improvement from previous games.
''Bowling in partnerships was the crucial thing for us.
''We bowled well in the opening 10 overs and then that flowed through with Sam Wells being able to bowl through the middle and pick up regular wickets. That nailed the game for us.''
Wells took career-best figures of five for 41 and opener Hamish Rutherford posted a century and combined in an Otago record stand for the first wicket with Aaron Redmond as the Volts put on a ground-record 332.
The team's season still hangs by a thread, though. With two round-robin games remaining, Otago is in last place with 10 points. But the Volts are only two points outside the top four and there is a maximum of 10 points still up for grabs.
A win is worth four points but there is a bonus point on offer if the achieved run rate is 1.25 times greater than that of the opponent.
''We are going to need more than four points, put it that way,'' King said when asked about his side's chances.
Otago plays Auckland in a return match at Eden Park Outer Oval tomorrow and completes the regular season with a match against Central Districts in Dunedin on Wednesday.
The Volts have stuck with the same side which beat Auckland, while the Aces have added veteran spinner Bruce Martin.
King is expecting a good batting strip, which should suit his team. Otago's strength lies in the likes of Rutherford, Redmond, Jesse Ryder and Ryan ten Doeschate scoring heavily.
Help is on the way for the embattled bowling attack. Ian Butler made his return last week after being sidelined since the opening game of the summer. Veteran seamer James McMillan has also made progress. He got through training this week and will be available for selection for Wednesday's match.
Batsman Neil Broom is battling with a knee injury and will struggle to return this summer, and pace bowler Jacob Duffy is definitely out for the remainder of the season.
Ford Trophy: Auckland, tomorrow
Otago: Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jesse Ryder, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, Bradley Scott, Mark Craig.
Auckland: Jeet Raval, Anaru Kitchen, Craig Cachopa, Colin de Grandhomme, Gareth Hopkins, Robert O'Donnell, Donovan Grobbelaar, Jono Sole, Michael Bates, Matt Quinn, Bhupinder Singh, Tipene Friday, Bruce Martin.
