The talented all-rounder will be making his first appearance for the Volts this summer after suffering the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup squad earlier this week.
In some respects, his omission was a surprise.
He has been a regular in the squad during in the past year but was overlooked for the more versatile Grant Elliott, who has not played international cricket since November 2013.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson pulled Neesham aside shortly after New Zealand's fabulous win in the second test against Sri Lanka and delivered the painful news.
''It was a pretty quick chat to be honest,'' Neesham said.
''He just basically said someone was always going to be unlucky and unfortunately it was me.
''I just hadn't put enough runs on the board to cover that top-five batting spot.
''I'm not really bitter about it. I suppose it is fair enough. I didn't really take my chances when I got them in the UAE and against South Africa.''
Elliott is different type of player to Neesham.
He has been predominantly picked as batting cover and will compete with Tom Latham for a starting spot at No 5.
Any overs the medium pacer gets through will be more of a bonus.
It is tough on Neesham who has shown a lot of promise, particularly in test cricket.
But Corey Anderson is the country's leading all-rounder and including Neesham would have meant dropping a seamer or forgoing batting cover.
The selectors have got the balance right.
Neesham will go back to domestic cricket and work on his game.
In hindsight his omission was well signposted.
He was given chances at the top of the order in a pinch-hitting role and needed to seize the opportunity to create space in the team for himself.
At the time, there was uncertainty around whether Kane Williamson's action would be cleared, and Jesse Ryder was on the outer, so the Black Caps needed to manufacture another opening option who also offered real value with the ball.
Neesham fitted the bill and opened against South Africa's intimidating strike force of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, scoring 16 and 10.
It is debatable whether two innings against the best attack in the world constitutes an opportunity but Neesham does not feel at all short-changed.
''It was a wee bit of a baptism of fire, I suppose.
But that is the sort of attacks the lads are going to come up against in the World Cup, so you have to score runs, no matter who is running in towards you.
''I did enjoy the foray at the top of the order and it was something I was looking forward to getting a few more opportunities at but unfortunately, the clock ran out.
''To be honest, in one-day cricket I haven't really delivered to my potential, so it is pretty hard to feel hard done by when you are not scoring runs or taking wickets.''
The 24-year-old will get more opportunities.
He has two, possibly three World Cups ahead and is staying positive.
He is potentially only one injury away from joining the squad and plans to keep the pressure on by scoring runs and taking wickets for Otago.
''I'm looking forward to playing for Otago in, I suppose, a lower-pressure environment and working on my game, which is something I have rarely been able to do in the last couple of months.''
