The Volts narrowly avoided defeat in their last outing against Northern Districts.
But coach Ashley Noffke remains optimistic about his team’s prospects.
"We’re making headway," he said.
"We’re heading towards the style of cricket we want to play.
"We've definitely had some challenges against the teams that we've come up against, to be fair.
"But we've got a really great opportunity against Canterbury [today in Rangiora] to come out and play the style of cricket we want, commit to the simple things around four-day cricket that we're focusing on, and our team is really nicely balanced."
That balance has improved with the return of the experienced Jacob Duffy.
The Otago spearhead has been sitting on the sideline with the Black Caps during the last month and will be hungry to get a bowl.
He has carried the Volts seam attack for many a summer now, and he replaces injured all-rounder Jake Gibson, who has a back complaint.
"He'll definitely bring that level of composure and leadership to our bowling group, which is something that takes time to get.
"I think we've done really well with the ball over the last couple of games, but there's been moments we've really lost and we've lost them quite badly and that's OK, that's part of the learning curve.
"Having someone like Duff back helps those younger guys understand that it's just a small moment in the game, it's not the game in total."
Openers Jacob Cumming and Thorn Parkes set a solid platform in their last outing. Cumming, who has recently had eye surgery, posted 54 and 38, and Parkes made 33 and 68.
Former captain Dean Foxcroft contributed with a nice double of 71 and 61.
"[Foxcroft] was just scratching for some form like anyone at the start of the season, but he's really found his feet now, he's moving beautifully.
"Even the last two one-day games, he got run-a-ball 20s and had the opposition on their knees and then played a shot and got out, you know.
"At the end of the day he was moving nicely, he just hadn't had that big score.
"He's worked really hard on his game in terms of the way he wants to move in his feet and he's confident and nice and relaxed at the crease.
"There's going to be some big numbers for Foxy coming up over the next little period as long as he can stay calm and present in the moment."
Plunket Shield
Mainpower Oval, 10.30am
Otago: Thorn Parkes, Jacob Cumming, Dale Phillips, Dean Foxcroft, Leo Carter, Luke Georgeson, Max Chu, Llew Johnson, Travis Muller, Jacob Duffy, Jarrod McKay, Zac Cumming.
Canterbury (possible): Rhys Mariu, Scott Janett, Henry Nicholls, Matthew Boyle, Mitchell Hay, Michael Rippon, Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Angus McKenzie, Fraser Sheat, Michael Rae, Sean Davey.
