Otago opener Brad Wilson is happy to see his name on the team sheet for today's Plunket Shield match against Wellington in Queenstown.
The 30-year-old transferred south from Northern Districts this season to rejuvenate his career and made an impressive start for his new province.
He is Otago's leading scorer in the Plunket Shield with 309 runs at an average of 51.50.
He has been really consistent too, with scores of 2, 83, 2, 100, 60 and 57.
His spot looked secure until the end of the twenty20 campaign when Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham returned and replaced him in the batting order.
Wilson was overlooked for most of the one-day campaign, making just one appearance.
The previous time he batted for Otago was the best part of the month ago.
"Obviously, we've got a pretty much a full-strength side, so it is good to be back in the mix,'' Wilson said.
"My form has been pretty good in the Plunket Shield, so it is good to get rewarded again and get another opportunity.''
With so little cricket recently, Wilson has been keeping himself in nick playing club cricket for Green Island and practising in the nets.
"Obviously that is one of the biggest challenges when you are not with the side. You can just do your best, really.''
Otago is at the bottom of the standings in the Plunket Shield with two losses and one draw in three games.
The Volts' depth was sorely tested in the opening rounds with so many players either injured or unavailable through Black Caps or New Zealand A commitments.
But with Otago fielding a much more skilful side, the team will be looking to make some progress up the standings.
"We need to start well for these last seven games and get a couple of wins early on,'' Wilson said.
"We've obviously got a great side to be fair for this game. We are going to lose a few to the test team I'd say but we've got to make sure we get some points under our belt in Queenstown.''
While it was Wilson who had to make room for Neesham during the twenty20 and one-day campaigns, Anaru Kitchen takes a turn this time as Neesham claims the No 5 spot.
Neesham's return to the bowling crease is being carefully managed. He is on a limit of five overs per spell.
Otago will not rely on Neesham too much as Neil Wagner and Jacob Duffy spearhead an attack which includes all-rounder Sam Wells and Black Caps off-spinner Mark Craig.
Left-armer Craig Smith gets his first run this season.
He carried the drinks for the latter half of the one-day campaign after being sidelined with an injury earlier in the summer.
Neil Broom was in majestic form during the one-dayers, swatting three hundreds, while Hamish Rutherford and Michael Bracewell are also in good touch.
It is a potent top four, with plenty of depth in the middle. Keeper Derek de Boorder will probably bat at No6, with Wells at No7 and Craig at No8.
Plunket Shield
Teams
Otago: Brad Wilson, Hamish Rutherford (captain), Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Craig Smith, Jacob Duffy, Jack Hunter.
Wellington: Michael Papps (captain), Brent Arnel, Matt Bacon, Tom Blundell, Scott Borthwick, Fraser Colson, Alecz Day, Jamie Gibson, Dane Hutchinson, Stephen Murdoch, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock.
