Last week veteran Green Island seamer Dion Lobb was named in the Otago team eight years after making his only appearance for the province.
This week it is Carisbrook-Dunedin captain Sean Eathorne (29) who has been called into the side for its round two Plunket Shield match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
It has been nine years since Eathorne last donned the whites for Otago.
While he has played some limited-overs cricket for the province during that time, his chances of adding to his first-class record appeared slim.
But the Volts have had to dig deep with 16 players unavailable through injury or other cricketing commitments, and that has provided Eathorne a lifeline.
''I guess it is something that I've always strived to do and the reason why I'm still playing cricket,'' Eathorne said.
''It has always been my goal to play for the Volts. Personally it means a hell of a lot to play for Otago. It is a very exciting opportunity.''
Eathorne struck a club century two weeks ago to help Carisbrook-Dunedin beat Albion by 42 runs, so he is in good form.
However, in five first-class games for Otago he has scored just 72 runs at an average of 7.20. He is a much better player than his record suggests, though, and is looking forward to proving a point should he make the playing XI.
''It is almost a second chance and my first-class record to date isn't that flash. But I'm happy with where my batting is at the moment and will take a bit of confidence out of that.''
Eathorne works for Dunedin Venues as a marketing co-ordinator and has been given time off despite it being a busy time with the Neil Diamond concert on in the city this weekend.
''It is interesting timing in terms of the Neil Diamond concert but it is an opportunity that they are happy for me to take a couple of days off work for.''
Sam Wells will captain the team in the absence of Hamish Rutherford, who has joined the Black Caps in Australia.
He has inherited a very inexperienced unit which will lean heavily on batsmen Neil Broom and Brad Wilson.
Young opening bowlers Michael Rae and Jack Hunter will share the new ball with support from Wells and fellow all-rounder Roald Badenhorst.
Josh Finnie missed Otago's opening match against Central Districts in Napier due to illness but returns to the squad, while Ryan Duffy will open alongside Wilson.
Adam Miles will take the gloves again and Nick Beard and Rhys Phillips will shoulder the slow bowling duties.
Otago escaped Napier with a draw thanks to an undefeated century from Broom and a fine 83 from Wilson.
Otago bowled 150 consecutive overs during the match but sensibly opted against calling on Rae and Hunter to bowl too many, so bothshould still be fresh.
The club knockout trophy draw was released yesterday.
Appleby will host Taieri in Invercargill. Albion also has to travel south, to play Metro. Green Island is at home to Carisbrook-Dunedin and Queenstown will host Milton. North East Valley, Marist, Otago Boys High School and Kaikorai have a bye in the first round. The games are scheduled for November 1, the morning of the Rugby World Cup final.
