Otago might just be coming right.
The Volts recorded their first victory since Christmas with a 23-run win against Central Districts in Palmerston North during the weekend.
The win would have done wonders for a team down on its luck and so will the return of Black Caps test bowler Neil Wagner. The 30-year-old left-armer will spearhead what is a young attack.
He replaces top-order batsman Ryan Duffy in the 12 for the today's match against Auckland in Invercargill.
The Volts lacked some potency in Wagner's absence. But as much as his presence will lift the team, it has been the arrival of left-arm leg spinner Michael Rippon which has helped reverse Otago's fortunes.
The Dutch international has taken four wickets in two games at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 3.55.
The 25-year-old will play for the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifier in Hong Kong later this month and will not be available from the elimination final on. Otago is hoping he will return for the remainder of the Plunket Shield and views him as a long-term prospect, so he could end up returning next summer as well.
He has certainly proven to be a very versatile player. He has opened the batting in the absence of Hamish Rutherford, who has a bulging disc in his back and is targeting a return late this month.
Rippon scored 43 at the top of the innings in Otago's win against Central and will look to set up a platform for the dangerous middle order of Michael Bracewell and Anaru Kitchen.
With Wagner returning, and Rippon good for 10 cheap overs and a wicket or two, the Volts have a much stronger bowling unit.
Kitchen (eight wickets at 19.75) has done a tremendous job plugging the gap in the slow bowling ranks, and seamer Jack Hunter has performed well when he has had opportunities. The 21-year-old has taken six wickets in three games at an average of 20.16.
Otago assistant coach Anton Roux said Hunter had worked hard developing his game when he was overlooked earlier in the season and ''is coming good'', while 18-year-old pace bowler Nathan Smith is still learning his craft and ''still has a bit of a way to go''.
But having Wagner back in the side will help those players with their confidence, Roux said.
Bracewell played an important knock in the win against Central. He was dropped second ball but went on to rescue his side from 69 for three. He holed out for 92 but Otago had 241 on the board by then and was in a much healthier position.
The punishing left-hander
shapes as a key player in the batting line-up alongside stand-in captain Brad Wilson, who has had a relatively lean run in the one-day competition.
Scattered showers are forecast but Otago will be hoping the weather stays fine.
The Volts feel three wins will be enough to squeak into the playoffs. To achieve that Otago (six points) needs to win two of its three remaining round-robin games. A rained off game would not be helpful.
Auckland is at the top of the table alongside Northern Districts with 15 points. It suffered a five-wicket loss to Canterbury on Saturday but has named an unchanged line-up.
