The Volts’ seven-wicket loss to Auckland at the University Oval on Sunday put a full stop on their playoff prospects.
While there is not lot to play for Otago in that sense, it is an opportunity for the squad’s younger players to show what they are capable of against a team which has rebounded from a poor start and has won four of its last five games.
Wellington can still sneak into the playoffs and will start as favourite, having beaten Otago by six wickets at Molyneux Park on December 28.
Hamish Marshall hit an undefeated century in that match and shapes as a major threat again, while fellow opener Michael Papps blasted 80 not out in his last innings.
Breaking that partnership early will be a priority for the Volts. And getting the better of recalled Black Caps off spinner Jeetan Patel and veteran all-rounder Grant Elliott during the middle overs could help decide the outcome.
Walter will have a relatively inexperienced group to call on for what is a tricky assignment. He blooded two players in the match against Auckland.
Top-order batsman Ryan Duffy and leg-spinner Rhys Phillips made their first twenty20 appearance, and pace bowler Michael Rae is likely to get a run today.
"It is only fair to everyone in the group to have a look and see what they are capable of," Walter said.
"It is really hard to make a decision on someone as a cricketer if you haven’t seen them compete. Unfortunately, the current system in New Zealand does not allow for much cricket at the top level, which is sad because you are putting guys into the match that have hardly played competitive cricket other than at club level.
"How are you supposed to get ready for a game at this level when you aren’t playing any other competitive cricket, so it is certainly an area that needs to be looked at, from my point of view."
Duffy and Phillips had mixed debuts. Phillips struggled with his length and got walloped for 35 runs from two overs.
He did spin the ball past the bat of Rob Nicol and the keeper completed a smart stumping to give Phillips his first wicket in the format.
"Rhys just struggled with his consistency. He bowled an absolute cracker to get rid of Nicol. All we want to do is see the number of those deliveries increase."
"With Ryan Duffy I certainly saw some stuff that excited me. It was nice to see a guy making his debut using his feet and hitting the ball over the top ... that showed confidence.
"He was unlucky to be given out [following an] inside edge on to his pad after hitting a boundary the ball before. Then with the ball he bowled one bad ball in the 12 balls he bowled, so in retrospect, his performance was a pretty exciting one, really."
All-rounder Josh Finnie made his twenty20 debut two years and the 20-year-old is starting to look more comfortable in the environment. He is a wonderful ball striker but is still learning how to construct an innings at the top level.
"I think he has got better and better every single game he has played. I think that was the third significant contribution he has made with the bat in nine games, and batting where he bats that is not a bad percentage."
Finnie scored a career-high of 45 in the loss to Auckland and certainly possesses a wide array of shots. He nearly cleared the grandstand with a massive six. It was a huge hit for a young man with a slight frame.
"It was another good knock [on Sunday] against some seriously good bowlers.
"For me, he has been [one of the successes] of the campaign. He is a standout young performer in this competition, for sure."
Otago has named an unchanged 12, while Wellington welcomes back Patel.
Twenty20, Otago v Wellington
Basin Reserve, today, 2pm
Otago: Ryan Duffy, Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Hamish Rutherford (captain), Josh Finnie, Michael Bracewell, Brad Wilson, Christi Viljoen, Sam Wells, Neil Wagner, Rhys Phillips, Michael Rae.
Wellington: Michael Papps, Hamish Marshall (captain), Tom Blundell, Michael Pollard, Grant Elliott, Matt Taylor, Luke Woodcock, Hamish Bennett, Jeetan Patel, Brent Arnel, Anurag Verma, Stephen Murdoch
