The Volts have qualified for the Ford Trophy playoffs with one round-robin match remaining. But the team could secure direct entry to the final with a win over Auckland in Invercargill today.
That will depend on how competition leader Wellington fares in its match against Northern Districts in Whangarei.
Northern Districts needs to win to have a hope of reaching the playoffs, while Wellington can confirm pole position with a win.
Central Districts hosts Canterbury in the other game. Both sides are out of contention.
Craig has not played since round three. He was ruled out with a back complaint and is still struggling with the injury, Volts coach Rob Walter said.
"It is an ongoing thing and hasn’t really changed much," Walter said.
"He saw the doctor [earlier in the week] and has gone on to some medication which is hopefully going to help with the spasms in his back.
"With lower backs it is always tricky to say [how long they will be out]."
Otago has made one change to the side which beat Canterbury by four-wickets in Christchurch on Sunday.
Spinner Ben Lockrose has been replaced by out-of-form batsman Shawn Hicks who was overlooked for the previous three games. He had got out to the short ball a couple of times and, with the pitches in Lincoln and Christchurch offering more bounce, he remained in Dunedin and played club cricket.
But with conditions expected to be lower and slower in Invercargill, Hicks’ skills are in demand again.
"I’m comfortable with Hicksey coming back. There was a certain area of his batting he wanted to work on.
"With the phase of the competition we are getting to, I thought it was important I brought him back in. I’m backing him to get the job done."
Walter said Hicks played the short ball well last season, so that was not his problem. It was just the timing of when he was electing to "take it on".
Auckland will be without pace spearheads Mitchell McClenaghan and Lockie Ferguson but will be able to call on Black Cap Colin Munro at the top of the order.
He plundered 143 runs from just 93 balls against Northern Districts on Sunday and shapes as a big threat to the short boundaries at Queens Park.
Auckland can overtake Otago if it secures a bonus point and lifts its net run rate. Otago’s first goal is to win the match but making sure it does not concede a bonus point is next on the priority list.
"But also we just need to step up and play another good game of cricket."
Auckland is a more formidable team with Munro in the batting order. Getting the bowling plans right will be crucial. He is one of the most destructive players in world cricket.
"We certainly have our plans but it is just whether his skill is stronger than our plans. But even the best cricketer in the world can get out and I think we just need to keep remembering that."
Otago v Auckland
Invercargill, today, 11am
Otago: Brad Wilson (co-captain), Mitch Renwick, Neil Broom, Shawn Hicks, Nathan Smith, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rippon, Josh Finnie, Christi Viljoen, Jacob Duffy (co-captain), Matthew Bacon, Warren Barnes.
Auckland: Ben Horne, Colin Munro, Sean Solia, Craig Cachopa, Graeme Beghin, Michael Barry, Matt McEwan, Roneel Hira, Danru Ferns, Ben Lister, Michael Snedden, Robert O’Donnell.
