The province was outplayed by Northern Districts in the final of the twenty20 tournament and had to settle for second in the Plunket Shield.
But based on Otago's batting line-up, the Volts might be able to upgrade from runner-up to winner.
In Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Jeese Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Michael Bracewell and overseas professional Ryan ten Doeschate, Otago has a formidable top six.
And for the first two games of the tournament, Black Cap all-rounders Jimmy Neesham and Nathan McCullum will add power to the middle order.
Bracewell is the only player of the above-mentioned group who has not played international cricket and he is in the form of his life.
Otago captain and gloveman Derek de Boorder may bat as low as ninth, and he averages more than 35 in one-day cricket.
The problem for Otago will be restricting its opponents. The Volts' bowling stocks have been decimated with Ian Butler, James McMillan, Jacob Duffy and all-rounder Sam Wells sidelined with injuries.
''It is a strong batting side but what we gain in batting we lose in bowling,'' Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said.
Regardless, Johnson rates his side's prospects.
''I think if we can play to our potential or play the way we have talked about playing in our meeting today, then I think we are a real chance.''
Ten Doeschate is expected to arrive in Christchurch today and will travel to Timaru where the Volts play their opening game against Canterbury tomorrow. The Dutch international has been a key member of the Otago twenty20 squad for the past two years but his best format is arguably 50 over cricket.
The 33-year-old has played 33 one-day internationals for the Netherlands and boasts an average of 67 - the highest career average when the minimum criteria is set at 20 innings.
He is also a useful right-arm medium pacer. His role with the ball will likely be to back up spinners Nick Beard and McCullum through the middle stages. With the bat, he might come in further down the order to finish off an innings. He is skilled in that role and paces an innings brilliantly.
On the injury front, Johnson is hopeful Butler will return in three weeks. He has been sidelined since the opening game of the summer with a chronic back injury. Duffy is still struggling with an ankle complaint. Sam Wells' side strain is on the mend. He may be available ''in the next couple of games''.
McMillan is unlikely to feature for the rest of the summer after he stepped in a foot hole and injured his hamstring.
Otago does have some depth in the slow-bowling stocks. Left-armer Beard is as miserly as they get and a key player in the attack.
Off-spinner Mark Craig will get opportunities when McCullum joins the Black Caps. He is largely untried in one-day cricket but has improved his game at first-class level to the point he is picked ahead of Beard.
The Wizards are fresh from success in the Plunket Shield tournament and made the final of the one-day tournament last year. They shape as tough opposition.
Ford Trophy: Otago v Canterbury
Tomorrow, Aorangi Oval, Timaru
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Jesse Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Ryan ten Doeschate, Michael Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder (captain), Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, Bradley Scott, Mark Craig.
Canterbury: George Worker, Rob Nicol, Peter Fulton, Dean Brownlie, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Andrew Ellis, Simon Keen, Ronnie Hira, Ryan McCone, Hamish Bennett, Matt McEwan.
