Left-arm seamer Craig Smith is in line to play his first four-day game in almost four years.
The Invercargill teacher has been named in the Otago 12 for the Plunket Shield match against Central Districts, in Queenstown, which gets under way tomorrow.
The 30-year-old last played a first-class game for Otago in March 2011 and his career appeared as if it had petered out. But he re-emerged this summer, playing in two twenty20 games for the province, and has got the nod ahead of fellow lefty Bradley Scott.
There are two very notable absences from the squad. Test opener Hamish Rutherford has opted to have laser surgery on his eyes and will not be available until the match against Wellington in Queenstown on February 28.
His spot will be taken by Southland's Ryan Duffy.
''He has had issues with his contacts moving around and just wants to make sure that that is not an issue for him any more,'' Otago coach Dimitri Mascarenhas said.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham is still struggling with a back complaint and is likely to be sidelined for the same length of time.
''He probably could play as a batter by they don't want to risk him and want to make sure it is healed up properly so he can come back bowling and batting.''
Punishing middle-order batsman Iain Robertson takes the spot Neesham would have claimed.
Robertson played a couple of good knocks for Otago in the one-day competition but was overlooked for the final three games.
''He has not played a four-day game this season and he is desperate to show what he can do and Ryan Duffy gets another chance at the top of the order.
''[Smith] has been bowling well in the nets and gets his chance. He'll be ready.''
