Neesham could be playing in the test against Sri Lanka at University Oval tomorrow.
Instead, he will be in New Plymouth, preparing for the final of the domestic twenty/20 series with Otago.
Neesham is nursing a stress fracture in his back and is playing for Otago as a batsman only.
He scored a quickfire 49 in the final round-robin game against Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui, giving a boost to the Otago total which, in the end, was too much for the Northern side.
Neesham (25) said his body was feeling the benefits of not being at the bowling crease.
"Obviously there is a lot less stress on the body when you are playing just as a batsman. You feel a lot better waking up the next day when you haven't been bowling,'' he said.
"And you can do a lot more batting training in the nets ... The innings on Sunday was a good chance to come out on a good batting wicket and have a go.
"I came back against Canterbury on the Uni Oval and I was not back in my rhythm but I got back in the nets and got some more batting under my belt.''
Neesham had a stress fracture in his back earlier this year and was advised to rest it and hope it had healed.
He was picked for the Black Caps' tour of Australia and played in the first test in Brisbane.
However, he was sent home straight after the game having bowled only a few overs against the Australians and there was suggestion he needed surgery.
He said the stress fracture appeared to still be there.
The plan was to gradually increase his bowling loads over the next two months and be available as an allrounder for New Zealand for the T20 World Cup, to be played in India in March.
"Obviously, it is a very much a day-by-day proposition.
"My place is still as an allrounder and about getting back to doing that as quickly as possible. It is frustrating but I try not to think about it.''
He might go under the knife in winter but all that depended on how the next couple of months went.
He admitted part of him wished he was getting ready for the test at University Oval but injuries were a part of sport and he was just concentrating on playing for Otago.
The side has a big few days ahead of it.
It flies to New Plymouth today - getting in some match practice at the venue - and takes on Auckland on Friday night in the preliminary final.
If it beats Auckland, it will go straight through to Sunday night's final.
If not, it will take on Canterbury at Yarrow Stadium on Saturday night.
Neesham said the side was not getting ahead of itself and just taking everything game by game.
"We have wanted to stay pretty level-headed at the end of the round robin. We have achieved one of our goals in finishing top qualifier ... now we just have to keep focusing on the cricket that we are playing.''
