The Volts made a sluggish beginning to the Plunket Shield and were guilty of not doing enough homework on their opponents.
One or two players drifted through the opening encounters hoping raw talent alone would be enough to bring the team success - it was not.
Some underwhelming results soon shook the team out of its complacency and there is a determination to avoid the same mistakes this summer.
Otago's first-class campaign starts today against Canterbury, in Rangiora, and the visiting side will be in a good state of mind.
"I'm feeling confident that the unit has prepared as well as it can," Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said.
"It comes down to what happens on the day but you couldn't ask for any more as far as their physical and mental preparation goes.
"They are as fit as any side in the country ... and in terms of the skill levels, we are slightly better than last year."
The two sides met in a series of warm-up matches last week, and Otago dominated the two-day and one-day games.
Canterbury had a narrow win in the twenty/20 game but promising performances from the Volts' top order suggest no repeat of last year's troubles.
Otago struggled to squeeze enough runs out of its top five or six batsmen.
Experienced players such as Aaron Redmond and Neil Broom had seasons to forget, but one of the few bright spots was the form of Hamish Rutherford.
He got a chance late in the season and shone with back-to-back centuries against Northern Districts and a double century against Wellington.
Rutherford picked up where he left off with a century in the warm-up game and both Redmond and Broom made telling contributions in the one-day match.
All-rounder Sam Wells picked up some wickets, which would have boosted his confidence, as his form with the ball fell away last summer. Strike bowlers James McMillan and Neil Wagner hit the deck hard and bowled with good rhythm, and spinner Mark Craig got through a lot of work.
The team should be in good heart. Its opposition, on the other hand, has been beset by injuries and has lost a handful of players to national duty.
Canterbury coach Gary Stead has been forced to name three new caps in his squad.
Ben McCord, Cole McConchie and wicketkeeper David Fulton have been called in, with pace bowlers Hamish Bennett, Ryan McCone and Matt Henry all sidelined through injury.
Internationals Andrew Ellis, Tom Latham, Rob Nicol and Ronnie Hira will all be away with the Black Caps.
Canterbury still boasts a strong batting line-up with Dean Brownlie, George Worker, Peter Fulton and Shanan Stewart, while overseas player Gareth Andrew will spearhead the bowling attack featuring left-armers Ed Nuttall and Willie Lonsdale.
Leg-spinner and new Black Cap Todd Astle should enjoy conditions which are expected to favour slow bowlers.
Plunket Shield
Rangiora, starting today
Otago: Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), Mark Craig, Jimmy Neesham, Neil Wagner, Ian Butler, James McMillan, Jacob Duffy.
Canterbury (from): Gareth Andrew, Todd Astle, Dean Brownlie, Brad Cachopa, David Fulton, Peter Fulton, Tim Johnston, Willie Lonsdale, Cole McConchie, Ben McCord, Henry Nicholls, Ed Nuttall, Shanan Stewart, George Worker.
