The Otago Volts must jump-start their twenty20 campaign against the Canterbury Kings in Christchurch tomorrow to have any chance of making the top three.
Without a win, and with half of their 10 scheduled games played, the Volts' chances of making the top three are already anaemic - a loss would surely cripple them.
Propping up the rest of the competition, the Volts are 16 points behind the first-placed Northern Knights, while the Auckland Aces sit in third with eight points from their two games.
Tomorrow's game will be the last time the Volts have the services of Jesse Ryder, Nathan McCullum and Derek de Boorder, who depart next week for New Zealand A's four-match tour of the United Arab Emirates.
Coming off another narrow loss to the Central Stags at the University Oval on Thursday, the Volts had a day off yesterday, before practising today.
Coach Dimitri Mascarenhas said the same 13-man squad used in the first five games would travel to Christchurch.
While the Kings were knocked off the top of the competition by the Northern Knights on Thursday, they have won three out of four games and boast a strong line-up, including former Volts batsman Neil Broom, who moved back to Christchurch at the start of the season.
Kings and former Black Caps bowler Andrew Ellis leads the competition with 11 wickets, while opener Aiden Blizzard has scored the sixth most runs (120).
Otago captain Ryan ten Doeschate (118) and Ryder (116) are the only Volts in the top-10 run-scorers, while McCullum and Dirk Nannes squeeze into the top 10 bowlers with five wickets apiece.
Tomorrow's game is the first of consecutive games against Canterbury, with the Volts hosting the Kings at the University Oval on Thursday afternoon.
''They [games] come thick and fast,'' Mascarenhas said.
''We have got to be ready. We have still got five games left and we want to do our best to win all five. Obviously we have got some hard work to do.''
- Robert van Royen
Super Smash
Christchurch, tomorrow, 2.30pm
Otago Volts: Ryan ten Doeschate (captain), Nick Beard, Michael Bracewell, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Dirk Nannes, Aaron Redmond, Iain Robertson, Jesse Ryder, Bradley Scott, Sam Wells.
Canterbury Kings: Neil Broom, Aiden Blizzard, Ronnie Hira, Peter Fulton (captain), Brendon Diamanti, Andy Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Todd Astle, Logan van Beek, Matt Henry, Ryan McCone, Cole McConchie.
