Black Caps and Otago all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has a stress fracture in his back and will not play for the Volts again this season.
The 24-year-old has been sidelined with a back complaint since he appeared for Otago as a specialist batsman in the one-day preliminary final against Central Districts in New Plymouth on January 28.
Initially, it was hoped Neesham would only be out for a couple of weeks but he has been ruled out of the remainder of first-class campaign and his Indian Premier League contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders may also be in jeopardy.
The hard-hitting left-hander, who was picked up by the Knight Riders for $107,000 in the IPL auction last month, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
But New Zealand Cricket's head of cricket Lindsay Crocker confirmed Neesham's injury was worst than thought.
''He has issue at the base of his back,'' Crocker said.
''It is not a stress fracture in the sense it is all the way through. But the best thing for him to do is to rest in order for that bone to heal and then start working on a return to play.
''We don't know quite how long he will be out of action.''
The IPl gets under way early next month. Crocker said it was unclear whether Neesham would be able to take up his contract with the Knight Riders.
''He is disappointed. It is a hell of a time for it to happen. If there are any injuries in the Black Caps, he was potentially on stand-by but of course that dream is now taken away.''
There is no update on Mark Craig's injury.
The test spinner picked up a knee injury during Otago's drawn match with Wellington in Queenstown two weeks ago and did not play in Otago's four-wicket win against Auckland at the University Oval this week.
That victory promoted the Volts (71 points) into secondplace with three rounds remaining.
Canterbury, the defending champion, leads the tournament with 84 points.
The teams play each other in Dunedin later this month.
The outcome of the game could have a big impact on whether Otago can end its long drought.
The province has not claimed the first-class title since the summer of 1987-88.
Otago's next match is against Northern Districts in Hamilton next week.
