Black Caps batsman Neil Broom will join the Volts squad for the clash against Wellington in the capital.
The game gets under way on Monday at 2.30pm but Broom may not be available for the opening day.
If the right-hander plays in the ODI against South Africa in Auckland tonight, he will have to skip the opening day due to the play-travel rule.
The policy is in place to prevent players from having to play one day, travel the next and then play on the third day.
If Broom does not play in the decider, then he is free to play on the opening day. Once he slots into the team, it will mostly likely be for Sean Eathorne. Otago will need all the batting power it can muster with the bowlers expected the have the upper hand in the day-nighter. Captain Brad Wilson is the competition’s leading scorer with 510 runs at an average of 63.75, while Anaru Kitchen has discovered some impressive form. He guided Otago to a five-wicket win against Northern Districts in Whangarei earlier this week with a wonderful undefeated 120.
He missed the early part of the campaign with a fractured finger but has scored two tons and a half-century in four innings.
Keeper Derek de Boorder has been very solid this season, as well, but Broom is the premier batsman in the side and his presence will lift the team.
The young pace attack of Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Michael Rae will look to build on an impressive last outing. Duffy (22) has remodelled his action this season and he swung the ball nicely in his return game. Smith, who is just 18 years old, picked up his maiden five-wicket bag in the win against Northern Districts and is the most promising bowler in his age-bracket in the country.
Rae (21) is the quickest of the three and bowled with good energy in his most recent game. There is no Jimmy Neesham. The allrounder has been named in the test squad alongside provincial team-mate Neil Wagner, who is returning from a finger injury and will play club cricket for Albion today.
Otago team
Brad Wilson (captain), Michael Rippon, Neil Broom, Sean Eathorne, Michael Bracewell, Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Christi Viljoen, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Rhys Phillips.
