Wagner (25), the Otago opening bowler, has revelled in first-class cricket for the Volts, and was the leading wicket-taker in the country last season.
But in one-day matches and twenty/20, the success has been rather more elusive.
In twenty/20 matches this season he took just five wickets while conceding more than 10 runs an over. That led to 12th man duties in one game, and questioning of his ability to tie down one end.
But a four-wicket bag against Wellington on Wednesday in Invercargill may be an indication he has turned the corner and will be an asset in the side's do-or-die semifinal against Canterbury tomorrow.
"That first season I came over from South Africa I had a bit of success in one-day cricket. But you need a bit of momentum in this form of the game and a bit of luck," Wagner said.
"You create your own luck and sometimes it does not go your way. Then you try that little bit harder and start searching for that little extra bit and that is really the last thing you need to do."
Wagner had struggled to swing the white ball in the first few overs.
"But I've executed probably four balls of an over well and then two balls not so good, so you end up conceding maybe 10 an over.
"One or two balls did not go to plan and that was the most disappointing thing. I was not executing it quite right and that was costing me."
Wagner has been working on his concentration to stop bowling the bad ball, being careful with his field placings, and just "controlling the controllables".
Otago blew its chance to finish top of the table when it lost to Wellington but Wagner said the side was not too disheartened.
"In some way finishing third can help you as you get in that mindset you have to win every game. Getting one or two you can get a bit complacent.
"Losing to Wellington has really kept us on our toes and got us back to working hard."
It will be the first meeting between the two South Island sides in the 50-over version of the game this season after an earlier scheduled match in Rangiora was rained out.
Canterbury has been up and down in the Ford Trophy and is coming off a loss to Northern Districts.
It will have to do without key bowler Andy Ellis but can still look to experienced batsmen Michael Papps and captain Peter Fulton.
Otago has dropped captain Aaron Redmond after a lean summer, and senior batsmen Craig Cumming and Neil Broom will need to show the way for the home team.
The forecast for tomorrow is promising with fine weather predicted.
The winner of this game will face the loser of the major semifinal, between Central Districts and Auckland tomorrow, on Wednesday to find the team to go through to the final on February 12.
Minor semifinal
University Oval, tomorrow, 11am
Otago: Derek de Boorder (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Michael Bracewell, Craig Cumming, Sam Wells, Darren Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, James McMillan, Ian Butler, Warren McSkimming.
Canterbury (likely): George Worker, Peter Fulton (captain), Shanan Stewart, Reece Young, Henry Nicholls, Todd Astle, Logan van Beek, Matt Henry, Ryan McCone, William Lonsdale, Tim Johnston, Edward Nuttall.
Key players
Otago: Craig Cumming 310 runs @ 77.50; Jimmy Neesham 183 runs @ 91.50, nine wickets at 25.55.
Canterbury: George Worker 298 runs @ 42.57; Matt Henry 10 wickets @ 17.80.
