Otago coach Nathan King has not tapped away at the calculator but the signs are his side has done enough to get through the twenty20 playoffs.
The Volts play Northern Districts at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui tomorrow afternoon and the result may end up being immaterial other than to what position the Volts eventually qualify in.
After nine rounds, Otago remains at the top of the twenty20 standings with 22 points.
Auckland is in second place with 20 points but has a game in hand. Northern Districts also has a game in hand and is in third with 18 points.
Both can push Otago down the ladder.
But the Volts enjoy a healthy net run rate, making them unlikely to finish any further down than third, even if Canterbury or Central Districts finishes on the same points haul. Wellington is out of contention.
''I think it looks promising for a spot in the finals irrespective of what happens from here on,''Otago coach Nathan King said.
''But there is no guarantee. If they win by 30 or 40 runs as we lose by 30 or 40 runs, that might be enough to change it. I have not done any calculations like that so I don't know what is required.
''But the more games you have played, then the harder it becomes to alter that run rate a great deal.''
The calculators will not be required if Otago can beat Northern and that is what the team is focusing on, King said.
With Thursday night's match against Auckland in Dunedin abandoned, King said his side would not have played for a week when it fronts at Bay Oval.
The Volts won four of their first five games but have arguably lost some momentum in the second half of the round-robin phase.
''We have to make sure we play really well on Sunday because otherwise we could go into the finals series with one game in almost two weeks and that is not ideal preparation.''
The finals series is being staged in New Plymouth next week.
The top two sides will play off on the Friday night.
The winner will qualify for the final on Sunday night, while the loser will play the third-placed side for the right to play in the final.
''Obviously we still have to get there but the challenge for us, if we are in the finals, is to keep making sure that the momentum we have created carries through.''
Otago has retained the same side that was named for the abandoned game against Auckland.
King confirmed Neil Broom would be the batsman who would drop down the order to allow Hamish Rutherford to open alongside Anaru Kitchen.
Broom is Otago's leading scorer in the campaign and he and Kitchen had formed a very useful duo. But, in Rutherford and Kitchen, Otago has two very aggressive openers.
Northern also has a dangerous top order that includes Irish star Kevin O'Brien and Black Caps all-rounder Corey Anderson.
They also have some quality slow bowling options should the wicket at Bay Oval take turn.
