Promising top-order batsman Michael Bracewell has been offered his first Otago contract and Bradley Scott returns to the fold after a three-year stint with Northern Districts.
But their appearance on the list of 11 players offered contracts is a feature rather than a surprise with Otago sticking with its regular contributors.
Experienced top-order batsman Craig Cumming and Aaron Redmond, wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder and bowlers Neil Wagner, Warren McSkimming and Ian Butler would have been among the first group of players to make the list.
Bracewell (20) earned his place following a promising debut season in which he scored 198 runs in three first-class games, and Scott's record for Otago and ability to bowl at the death secured his place, coach Vaughn Johnson said.
"There are a couple of players who were unlucky because of the emergence of Michael Bracewell and the return of Bradley Scott," he said.
"But, as you say, our tried and true are players that have performed well and we look forward to them continuing that.
"I guess Bracewell's addition is a feature. Michael, in his first season, averaged 49 in the four-day game and did OK in the one-day series. He is young, he has plenty of cricket in front of him and he is a good kid to work with, in terms of we still think there is plenty of improvement in him."
Scott is at the other end of the spectrum. He is a proven performer and his durability also played a major factor in being offered a contract.
"He stays on the park, he hits yorkers well and you can rely on him to bowl at the death. He adds to the mix of seamers we can look to play on the day."
Nick Beard bowled a lot of overs last season and has emerged as the province's leading spinner in the four-day game.
Darren Broom had a mixed season. He did well in the one-day tournament with 244 runs at 40.66 but was not as consistent in the Plunket Shield with 385 runs at 27.50.
Both retain their contracts, as does all-rounder Sam Wells. Wells produced some outstanding performances in 2009-10 but spent most of the last season nursing a knee injury.
Missing from last year's list are batsman Shaun Haig and medium-pacer Anthony Bullick. Bullick had a terrible run with injuries and was not on the field long enough to press his claim.
Pace bowler James McMillan, left-arm seamer Craig Smith and top-order batsman Hamish Rutherford may also come back in to contention with a further contract to be awarded during the second round of contracting early next month.
"We still have a situation where we have one contract to give out and we're not 100% sure who that will go to at the moment.
But it is pretty safe to say, you are better to be top heavy with bowlers than light because of the injury situation throughout the season."
• Otago contracts - The 11
Nick Beard, Michael Bracewell, Darren Broom, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek de Boorder, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Bradley Scott, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.
