The Volts reined supreme in the shortened format last summer. They won 10 HRV Cup games in row and carried that form into the Champions League, where they narrowly missed out on a place in semifinals.
In all, Otago won 15 consecutive games. It was a remarkable feat which will perhaps never be repeated.
Otago has added some batting strength but will be missing some key bowlers, especially in the tournament's opening weeks.
Former Black Cap Jesse Ryder has transferred south from Wellington and he was the competition's leading scorer, with 584 runs at an average of 58.4Talisman Ryan ten Doeschate has returned for a second stint with the province and was almost as effective as Ryder, with 401 runs at 50.12.
Spinner Nick Beard and pace bowler Jacob Duffy shared top spot on the wicket-taker's list with 15 scalps apiece.
Beard was economical as well, conceding a shade under six an over. But he has pulled a leg muscle and will be sidelined for the next two weeks. That means he will miss Otago's home double-header next weekend.
Seamer Ian Butler made some telling contributions with the ball and the bat but is also injured. He is out for an indefinite period with a back complaint.
Gloucestershire pace bowler James Fuller took 13 wickets for Otago but has signed with Auckland this season.
Otago will also have to watch many of its best players ply their trade for the national side.
The West Indies tour New Zealand in December and January, and India arrives straight afterwards.
That means brothers Brendon and Nathan McCullum, Hamish Rutherford and Jimmy Neesham are unlikely to feature much, if at all, for their province.
Left-armer Bradley Scott has returned after a five-year stint with Northern Districts and provides a boost for the bowling stocks.
Otago had a comprehensive build-up for the Champions League and played six games against some of the best domestic teams in the world, so it has a jump start on the competition.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson does not quite see it that way, though.
''It is obviously a help, but everyone is even now and that is what I'm about to talk to the team about,'' he said.
''What we've done in the past is gone now and everybody wants to get into the position of being able to qualify for the Champions League.
''I'm sure the boys are very keen to do well again but there are five other sides who all want to do that.''
Otago is missing six players from the team which played its last match against the Rajasthan Royals.
''I'm not sure how many of the guys we've got back, so we're obviously not as strong as we've been. But I'm sure the guys which are coming in will do the job.''
The game will be played under temporary lights. Johnson said the Volts planned to watch last night's game between Canterbury and Central Districts at Hagley Oval, partly to get a handle on how strong the lights will be and also to gauge the strength of their opponents.
''I've heard different views on the lights, so we'll just see how it goes. It is the first time up and they are talking them up, so we'll see if they are as good as everybody says.
''We like to make our decisions based on the wicket. But if the lights are a major factor on what you do first or second, then obviously we have to take that into account.''
The same lights will be used in Dunedin next weekend, when Otago hosts Canterbury on Friday night and Northern Districts on Saturday night.
HRV Cup: Hagley Oval, tonight, 7.15pm, live on Sky Sport 2
Otago: Neil Broom, Jesse Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Ryan ten Doeschate, Michael Bracewell, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Bradley Scott, Jacob Duffy, James McMillan.
Canterbury: Peter Fulton (captain), Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Brad Cachopa, Andrew Ellis, Matt Henry, Roneel Hira, Simon Keen, Rob Nicol, Loagan van Beek, George Worker.
