Instead, the in-form Otago batsman faces the daunting prospect of breaking into the middle order - a rare area of strength in the Black Caps batting line-up.
With Ross Taylor having a mortgage on the No 4 spot and a fit Jesse Ryder the first-choice No 5, Broom's prospects of cracking the test team rely on the selectors opting to play six batsmen or shuffling the batting order to accommodate him in the middle order.
Daniel Vettori's well-deserved promotion to No 6 has blocked another route by which Broom might have fought his way into the side.
But his elevation is definitely on the cards.
The 26-year-old got a courtesy call from national selector Mark Greatbatch before the third test against Pakistan in Napier.
Greatbatch left a message advising he had missed out but, encouragingly, telling him to keep scoring runs - and Broom has obliged.
The right-hander has delivered runs consistently for the province since he transferred south from Canterbury for the 2005-06 season.
But this summer he has lifted his performance another notch.
In four Plunket Shield games he has scored 566 runs at an average of 94.33, including three hundreds.
His career average has risen from 38.47 to 41.17, and in 34 matches for Otago he has scored 2265 at 46.22, including six centuries and 12 fifties.
It is a first-class record which is comparable to that of Taylor and Ryder.
Taylor has scored 4456 runs at 40.50 and Ryder 3411 at 43.73.
The numbers do not lie and many, including his coach, believe it is time Broom got an opportunity in white.
"I think Neil has does everything that could have been asked of him," Mike Hesson said.
"In terms of New Zealand middle-order players, he is certainly the one in form, and, if they were to pick a test side tomorrow, I'd be very surprised if he wasn't in it."
However, Hesson acknowledged a fit Ryder would change the equation for Broom but that would not necessarily rule him out.
"Whether Jesse Ryder is back [for the test against Bangladesh in February] or not, they've still looked, at times, to play a genuine No 6 and that is a position that Neil could fill.
"I don't think he is a top-three prospect in test cricket but he could certainly bat anywhere between four and six."
Rotation is not an official policy, it is just a fact of life for New Zealand's top-order batsmen.
Plenty have been tried and almost as many have failed. Despite a long-running situations vacant advertisement, Broom is not planning an appearance in the top order any time soon.
He knows his strengths and weaknesses.
His ability to take attacks apart down the order is the game with which he is most comfortable and with which he has had success.
"In the longer form I'm better suited to bat between No 4 and No 6," Broom said.
"I've never opened or batted three in the four-day game. My job is in the middle order. That is where I want to play test cricket."
Hesson agrees. "Neil is a natural stroke-player and he plays instinctively. It is a real strength and not something you'd want to change by moving him into the top three."
With the likes of Aaron Redmond and Nathan McCullum nursing injures, Broom has had to shoulder more responsibility.
And that means playing more patiently.
By giving himself time to get set he has been able to establish more rhythm in his batting.
His spell with the national one-day side has also helped his development.
While he has produced modest returns - 201 at 15.46, and 61 runs at 15.25 in nine international twenty/20 matches - the quality of the bowling and training has helped improved his batting.
"With the New Zealand team you do a lot of high-intensity training and your game does develop, even if you're not scoring any runs.
Coming back to first-class cricket I've noticed there is a big difference in level and intensity.
"To score a lot of runs is nice but I'd definitely rather be doing it at a higher level. I do believe the quality of bowling in first-class cricket has dropped off in the last year and a-half."
Otago's focus switches from the Plunket Shield to the one-day competition when the Volts play Northern Districts in Invercargill tomorrow.
The game was originally scheduled for Oamaru but was switched to Invercargill's Queens Park to allow the North Otago Cricket Association more time to prepare the Centennial Park pitch.
But heavy rain in Invercargill during the past week has made preparing a decent pitch a challenge.
The pitch has been under cover most of the week and there were fears the game would have to be transferred.
But after viewing the wicket, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes has given the venue his backing.
Otago fast bowler Mat Harvie returns after being rested during the 37-run loss to Auckland on Thursday, while batsman Sean Eathorne and spinner Nick Beard drop out.
Black Caps bowler Tim Southee returns for Northern Districts at the expense of Bradley Scott, while Anton Devcich replaces James Marshall, who injured a finger in the loss to Canterbury.
Otago v Northern
Invercargill, tomorrow
Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Shaun Haig, Neil Broom, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Yasir Arafat, Ian Butler, Warren McSkimming, Neil Wagner, Mat Harvie, Anthony Bullick.
Northern Districts: Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Peter McGlashan, Bruce Martin, Michael Parlane, Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Joseph Yovich.
For the record
First-class statistics
Career: 51 matches, 3088 runs at 41.17 including seven 100s and 15 50s
This season: 4 matches, 566 runs at 94.33 including three 100s
Otago record: 34 matches, 2265 at 46.22 including six 100s and 12 50s
International record
ODIs: 16 matches, 201 at 15.46
Twenty/20: 9 matches, 61 runs at 15.25
