Smith was 12th man when Otago won the one-day competition in 2007-08 and he carried the drinks in the semifinal against Central Districts in 2005-06.
So the 26-year-old medium pacer is eager to play a more active role when Otago plays Northern Districts in a sudden-death playoff match in Queenstown tomorrow.
"Butts [Ian Butler] is back and Jimmy [James McMillan] is fit, so we will just have to wait and see," Smith said when asked if he anticipated playing.
Smith made his one-day debut for Otago in 2004-05 as a 20-year-old and has played 16 one-day games with 17 wickets at an average of 36.35.
That first game against Canterbury was "pretty daunting", he said.
"They had a bit of a rock star team."
Bowling to the likes of Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan was a huge challenge and Smith got hit - 31 runs from five wicketless overs.
But the Oamaru-born medium pacer kept improving and got himself an Otago contract in 2008-09. Unfortunately, he picked up a stress fracture in his back while playing in the provincial A tournament that season and was confined to the sidelines for the remainder of the summer.
It was 12 months before the Southland Boys' High School physical education teacher could bowl again and he made his comeback last season, playing some club cricket and for the Otago A team.
Smith was rusty and low on confidence, but he kept plugging away and has re-emerged this summer. He got a break when McMillan was forced out with an injury and has produced some solid performances.
In six games he has taken eight wickets at an average of 30 and has had to shoulder some of the donkey work, labouring into some stiff winds.
It will be tight call as to whether Smith makes the starting XI. Strike bowler Neil Wagner will spearhead the attack but who joins him is unclear.
McMillan has been bowling well when he has been fit and is a strong contender. Experienced medium pacer Warren McSkimming has been expensive and Butler has had his share of off games but offers more with the bat.
Whoever takes the field, the game promises to be a cracker. The teams fought out a rare tied match when they last met and are very evenly matched.
Otago's Neil Broom has posted two hundreds and is in good nick, and Craig Cumming and Aaron Redmond have also played crucial knocks. Redmond is due another.
Northern Districts opener BJ Watling scored an undefeated century in his last innings but is carrying a back strain, and former Otago left-armer Bradley Scott drops out of this game with ND opting for an extra batsman as cover for Watling.
Experienced medium pacer Graeme Aldridge and Black Cap Brent Arnel will spearhead an attack which includes promising left-armer Trent Boult.
Queenstown's forecast tomorrow is for westerly winds and some rain. If the game is abandoned Otago will progress courtesy of finishing ahead of Northern Districts in the round robin.
The winner of the preliminary final between Canterbury and Auckland in Christchurch tomorrow will host the final on February 13, while the loser will host the winner of the Otago-Northern Districts game on February 9.
