Michael Rae has carried the drinks for Otago during its past three first-class games and the big fast bowler is rather keen to spend some time out in the middle next week.
Otago is hosting Auckland in what shapes as a key Plunket Shield encounter.
The game starts at the University Oval on Monday and, with just four rounds remaining in the tournament, Otago needs to grasp every opportunity it can to force a result.
The Volts are in fourth place with 52 points. Northern Districts leads the competition with 66 points from Auckland, also on 66 points, and Canterbury (65). Central (50) and Wellington (39) are at the bottom of the standings.
Auckland will still be smarting from its loss to Canterbury last week.
The Aces set Canterbury 362 to win at Colin Maiden Park, but a fine partnership between Peter Fulton (101) and Neil Broom (78) and a clutch innings of 81 not out from Andrew Ellis helped Canterbury clinch a four-wicket win.
Otago's match against Wellington in Queenstown was dogged by poor weather and finished in a draw.
Rae was 12th man for that game and has not played for the province since December.
But the strapping 2m 19-year-old is far from discouraged. While he hopes to be part of the starting XI, he is happy absorbing everything he can from the sidelines.
''I'm really enjoying just being part of the environment and I'm learning a lot from the older guys,'' he said.
Rae has taken a break from studying this year to concentrate on cricket and is heading to England next month to play for the Tewkesbury Cricket Club.
The right-armer looks like he gets the ball through at a good clip but he has never been ''clocked''.
''I just run in and let it go and try to focus on where it lands and try to swing it a little bit, as opposed to beating people with pace.''
Getting the ball to move away from the right-handers has been a big focus during all those training sessions this summer.
Should Rae play, he may find a helpful surface to bowl on.
The University Oval pitch was under covers yesterday and, with more rain forecast this weekend, there is bound to be some assistance for the seamers.
''With a bit of rain it might be a bit green and nip around a wee bit. But all I can really do is keep working in the nets and when an opportunity comes, try to make the most if it.''
Neil Wagner and Jacob Duffy have been bowling nicely with the new cherry for Otago.
Wagner is the competition's leading wicket-taker with 29 wickets at an average of 26.75, and Duffy has improved markedly this season and has 18 wickets at 28.11.
Experienced left-armer Craig Smith has proved excellent value on his return to first-class cricket.
The Invercargill teacher has nine wickets in three games at an average of 24.66.
If Rae does get an opportunity on Monday it may be at the expense of all-rounder Roald Badenhorst, who made his first-class debut for Otago in the drawn fixture against Wellington last week.
