The Volts must beat the Knights in their penultimate round-robin game to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Their final game is against Wellington in Invercargill on Wednesday.
A top-four finish is needed to reach the knockout stage, but Otago is dead last on eight points with only one win and a tie to show from its five completed games.
Canterbury leads the competition on 25 points, well clear of the Central Stags (16) and Auckland Aces (12).
Otago would no doubt be better placed in the competition if Neil Broom got some support.
The 32-year-old North East Valley batsman scored an unbeaten 124 in a crucial win against the Knights in Whangarei last Sunday, his fifth for Otago in the one-day format.
It was his second ton this season, and fifth for Otago, which ensured he surpassed Craig Cumming's record of four for the province.
"I didn't realise that before I did it,'' Broom said.
"But it's nice to break one of [Craig Cumming's] many records. I'm feeling pretty good with the bat at the moment, so I can't complain.''
Broom has scored 313 runs in the Volts' campaign, the second-most in the competition behind Anton Devcich (330), of Northern.
He has had little support from his fellow batsmen, with many of them guilty of getting starts but failing to kick on.
"We haven't played well at all this season in the onedayers,'' Broom said.
"I don't know, it's a hard one to put your finger on. On paper, we're probably one of the stronger sides, if not the strongest.
"Guys have just been struggling for runs, or we have bowled well but haven't batted well. It's just been a funny season.''
Captain Hamish Rutherford is particularly guilty of getting starts and not going on. Not including when he scored eight against the Knights last Sunday, he has scored from 28 to 49 in each of his innings.
"Hamish has been batting beautifully but just hasn't been able to kick on, which is probably a bit disappointing for him personally,'' Broom said.
Jimmy Neesham is another who is due for a big one. He has been disappointing in the white-ball format, mustering scores of 5,32, 34, nought and seven.
Tomorrow's game marks a welcome return to the University Oval for the Volts.
They have not played at the Dunedin ground since November 29, when they lost to Canterbury by 23 runs in the twenty 20 competition.
That was just the second game at the ground this season.
The most recent scheduled match there, against Auckland on December 3, was abandoned due to rain.
"The boys have been talking about it,'' Broom said.
"It's been a bit of a strange season. It's feels like we have only played one or two games there, which is a bit weird this time of the season. It will be good to get back there. We love playing there and it's definitely one we are looking forward to winning.''
Coach Nathan King has stuck with the same 12 for tomorrow that tied with Wellington, due to the Duckworth Lewis method, on Wednesday.
However, Otago could be boosted by the return of Neesham to the bowling crease.
He was back bowling in the nets during the week and is expected to bowl for the first time since injuring his back in the first test against Australia in Brisbane last November.
Otago v Northern
University Oval, tomorrow, 11am
Otago Volts: Hamish Rutherford (captain), Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Craig Smith, Bradley Scott.
Northern Knights: Daniel Flynn, Cody Andrews, BJ Watling, James Baker, Jonathan Boult, Dean Brownlie, Joe Carter, Anton Devcich, Tony Goodin, Brett Hampton, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi.
Ford Trophy table: Canterbury 25, Central Stags 16, Auckland Aces 12, Northern Knights 9, Wellington Firebirds 8, Otago Volts 8.
