The promising right arm swing bowler impressed during the recent second XI tournament and has been named in Otago side which also features the return of former Black Cap Ian Butler.
Overseas professional Dimitri Mascarenhas has been released early and will return to Australia, and out of form batsman Aaron Redmond has been left out of the 12. Fast bowler James McMillan was unavailable.
Volts coach Vaughn Johnson said Duffy was an excellent young prospect and deserved an opportunity.
"He has come through the academy down in Invercargill ... and he performed well at the B tournament," Johnson said.
"We've got to start having a eye for the future. There is no getting around the fact that some of our guys are getting on a little bit and, with a couple out of form at the moment, it is a great opportunity to give someone like him an opportunity.
"Whether he plays or not, he'll come into the team and get a taste of the environment. Twenty/20 can be a bit ruthless and you've got to be a bit careful. But, hopefully, it will give him some idea that he has a big future with Otago cricket."
Johnson said Duffy was "quick enough" but his main weapon was his ability to bend the ball both ways.
"He has some raw pace but he moves it around and you just never know."
As far as Butler was concerned, Johnson said the experienced campaigner had bowled well in the B tournament and had pushed his case with some good spells in the nets.
"I asked him to go away and sort out his consistency and he seems to be bowling well in the nets at the moment. And I've been happy with him on and off the park in terms of his attitude. I'm happy to have him back."
The game against Northern Districts is a dead rubber, with Auckland and Canterbury confirmed as finalists. But there is still plenty to play for as far as Otago is concerned. The Volts are well-placed in the one-day competition, which will resume at the conclusion of the HRV Cup.
Butler has been Otago's best performed bowler in the 50-over format and strike bowler Neil Wagner, who has been out of sorts in the twenty/20 tournament, will likely return.
Brendon McCullum will be on Black Caps duty, which will pave the way for Redmond's return.
The Otago captain has struggled in all three formats this summer and will be under enormous pressure to score runs.
Opening batsman Michael Bracewell will come back into contention, as well as all-rounder Sam Wells. Both have been named in the New Zealand XI which will play a three-day warm-up game against Zimbabwe in Gisborne beginning on Saturday.
Otago v ND
Hamilton, today
• Otago: Brendon McCullum (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Craig Cumming, Neil Broom, Nathan McCullum, Jimmy Neesham, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Nick Beard, Craig Smith, Jacob Duffy.
