The Sparks have lost some bowling firepower with the departure of strike bowler Tabatha Waterreus, but her loss has been more than compensated for with the return of dual cricket and basketball international Suzie Bates.
Bates took most of last season off to pursue her basketball career but is back and expected to play a vital role with both the ball and the bat.
The explosive all-rounder will open the bowling and the batting and is a proven match-winner.
She blazed her way into the record books with a remarkable unbeaten innings of 183 against Auckland in 2005-05.
Classy White Ferns all-rounder Sarah Tsukigawa was one of the leading contributors for the Sparks last season, averaging 29 with the bat and taking 12 wickets at an average of 19.75.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Katey Martin completes the talented threesome. She was in outstanding touch with the bat, scoring 263 runs at 52.60.
Martin often found herself running out of partners and has been promoted from the middle order to open the batting alongside Bates this summer.
Player-coach Clare Taylor is confident the Sparks can improve on their fourth placing in the one-day tournament last year.
"The personnel hasn't changed too much from last season," she said.
"We finished fourth and were just a bit unlucky in a few games. So we're hoping to go a bit better and hopefully sneak into the final."
Taylor said defending champion Canterbury looked strong again and Central Districts had a talented squad, with Wellington shaping as a potential surprise package.
The Sparks' first opponent, Auckland, has had to reshuffle its line-up with injuries to several key players.
Michelle Lynch, who has played 39 matches for the North Islanders, comes back into the side for skipper Ingrid Cronin-Knight.
Lynch might have felt a touch guilty answering the call from coach Maia Lewis as she was responsible for the shot that concussed Cronin-Knight in the Masters World Cup indoor cricket tournament and put her out.
Auckland is also without White Fern Ros Kember and Elfriede Komp, both through injury.
They will be looking to the experience of Paula Gruber, who takes over as captain, and the returning Natalee Scripps to lead from the front.
Otago Sparks season
One-day league
v Auckland, Alexandra, December 6 & 7
v Canterbury, Christchurch, December 20 & 21
v Wellington, Wellington, December 28 & 29
v Northern Districts, Invercargill, January 3 & 4
v Central Districts, Palmerston North, January 17 & 18T
wenty/20 league
v Auckland, Alexandra, December 5
v Canterbury, Christchurch, December 19
v Wellington, Wellington, December 27
v Northern Districts, Invercargill, January 2
v Central Districts, Palmerston North, January 16
Teams
Otago: Sarah Tsukigawa (c), Katey Martin, Megan Kane, Ariana Te Wake, Suzie Bates, Tessa Hopkinson, Emma Campbell, Lucy Foote, Kylie Crowley, Tanya Morrison, Abigail Kitchin, Lisa Grant.
Auckland: Paula Gruber (c), Vic Lind, Michelle Lynch, Megan Murphy, Katie Perkins, Sam Barriball, Wendy Horneman, Sarah Hopkins, Megan Tremaine, Prashilla Mistry, Natalee Scripps, Saskia Bullen.
