The absence of Black Caps spinner Mark Craig has meant the Volts have had to make do with part-time spinners Anaru Kitchen and Josh Finnie.
Neither have been able to make much impact with the ball and Otago has been reluctant to press the inexperienced Phillips into action.
He proved expensive during the three first-class matches he played earlier in the season and really struggled to hit a good length.
But with Otago’s playoff prospects slim — Wellington’s nine wicket win over Northern at Seddon Park last night throwing Otago a lifeline — the Volts have nothing left to lose. And it has often been during the middle overs where Otago has surrendered control of games.
It is during that period where the slow bowlers usually try to rattle through some quick overs without going for too many runs. Last summer Otago could call on Nathan McCullum and he was the master of restricting batsmen to singles. But in McCullum’s absence, teams have looked to target those overs and it has often been the difference.
"We bowled the death overs for 30 runs two games in a row, which is outstanding in this format," Otago coach Rob Walter said.
"We’ve had teams 40 for two after the first six [overs], which is right on the money as far as a start to the game goes.
"But the middle overs have probably been a little bit of a concern with the ball and, actually, probably with the bat as well.
"If there is anything we could do better, it would be the middle section with both bat and ball."
While it is not certain Phillips will play to assist in that area, Walter hinted it was likely.
"I think the thing that stands out is the contribution of spin bowling during that middle phase. With no disrespect to Anaru and to Josh, you know they aren’t first and foremost spinners. And, specifically, the wrist spinners have shown in T20 cricket they are the trump card.
"Auckland has lost four games in a row on the back of the opposition being able to dominate [Tarun] Nethula. In the first four games that they won, he was dominant."
Otago has also made two other changes. Melbourne Renegades batsman Tom Beaton has returned to Australia and has been replaced in the squad by Ryan Duffy, while seamer Nathan Smith split the webbing in his hand and will miss the remainder of the tournament. He has been replaced by Michael Rae.
"We are going to have a young side with limited experience but whatever happens, it is a great experience for them."
The top three sides go through to the playoffs. Otago is in last place with 12 points and needs a host of results to go its way and to win both its remaining games to sneak into the preliminary final.
Auckland has slipped to fourth place with four wins from eight games. In last night’s game, the Knights scored 175 for two on the back of Corey Anderson’s 72, but the Firebirds overhauled that with an over to spare, opener Michael Papps plundering an unbeaten 80 off 59 balls.
Domestic twenty20
University Oval, tomorrow, 2pm
Otago: Hamish Rutherford (captain), Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Michael Bracewell, Josh Finnie, Brad Wilson, Ryan Duffy, Christi Viljoen, Neil Wagner, Rhys Phillips, Michael Rae, Sam Wells, Bradley Scott.
Auckland (possible): Michael Guptill-Bunce, Glenn Phillips, Rob Nicol, Jeet Raval, Mark Chapman, Ben Horne, Sean Solia, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Barry, Tarun Nethula, Tymal Mills, Shawn Hicks.
