He made his return to bowling crease during the Volts' comprehensive eight-wicket win against Northern Districts at the University Oval on Sunday.
That win boosted Otago's prospects of making the finals for the one-day tournament. A win today against Wellington in Invercargill would seal a playoff spot.
Pencil Neesham in for five overs.
He got through five against Northern. It was the first time he had bowled during a match since injuring his back in the first test against Australia in November.
"Obviously I was paying attention to how I felt when I woke up this morning,'' Neesham said.
"But there is no aches and pains at all which is surprising but pretty pleasing.''
Neesham hit the deck hard and bowled with good intent.
He went unrewarded with none for 23 but could have easily picked up the key wicket of Anton Devcich with an ounce more luck when the batsman nearly chopped on.
There were a couple of loose deliveries as you would expect, but generally Neesham hit a good line and length.
"It felt really good. The first stint back you are always a wee bit apprehensive about how it will go. But I was talking to [Otago bowling coach] Warren McSkimming pretty regularly on the sideline and just trying to tweak a few things.
"I think we were pretty happy even though I didn't get any wickets. I was still pretty happy with how the ball was coming out.
"We've been working on my run-up speed - starting a bit slower at the top of my run-up and gradually building pace instead of, I suppose, sprinting from the very start. And just working on a few little things with my back leg coming through, so trying to jump a wee bit higher in the delivery stride and get a bit more momentum coming through the crease.''
McSkimming took 238 wickets for Otago at an average of 24.40, so the former medium-pacer knows his onions. He was the master of dropping the ball on a good line and length and letting the seam and the surface do the work.
"It is quite hard working with different bowling coaches all the time when you are coming in and out of the Black Caps and back for Otago. But I've found Warren really useful. He has a slightly more simpler look at how bowling works and I'm really enjoying getting different views.''
Neesham has been back bowling in the nets for the past "three of four weeks'' but there is nothing like the intensity of a match to help you sharpen your skill, he said.
Neesham is on a firm bowling load of five overs a game for the rest of the season.
He has been bitten by trying to do too much too soon in the past, so will be sticking to the prescription.
Like team-mate Nathan McCullum, he is hopeful he will be named in the New Zealand team to contest the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in India in March and April.
Being able to bowl again also takes the pressure off his batting.
Neesham has been coming in at No 5 and has had some starts but has not been able to have the impact he would like.
He has scored just 78 runs in five innings.
That is well below his usual output.
"It has been a bit scratchy to be honest. I think Kingy [Otago coach Nathan King] has been really good allowing me to just take my time and work through a few technical issues I was having. It is definitely starting to feel a lot better in the nets, so hopefully that will come to fruition in the game.''
Neesham believes Otago is coming into some good form at the right time and McCullum's return - he replaced the injured Bradley Scott - means the Volts have an impressive line-up which features six past or present internationals.
Wellington has made one change from the side which lost to Auckland by seven wickets. Jamie Gibson comes in for Matt Bacon.
Otago v Wellington
Invercargill, 11am today
Otago: Anaru Kitchen, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Hamish Rutherford, Jimmy Neesham, Nathan McCullum, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Craig Smith.
Wellington: Michael Papps (captain), Michael Pollard, Stephen Murdoch, Craig Cachopa, Tom Blundell, Luke Woodcock, Alecz Day, Jeetan Patel, Anurag Verma, Dane Hutchinson, Brent Arnel, Jamie Gibson.
