Otago will be without leading batsman Neil Broom for its Plunket Shield match against competition frontrunner Auckland beginning at the University Oval today.
Broom has been granted leave to have an operation on his nose.
It is the only change to the side which lost to Canterbury by five wickets in Invercargill last week.
‘‘It has been something that [Broom] has needed done for quite some time now and, given that we are out of this competition, he scheduled it in with my permission,'' Otago coach Nathan King said.
‘‘It is a big loss. He has been our best batsman this summer and that is across all three formats.''
Broom may miss Otago's match against Central Districts at the University Oval next week, as well, but will be available for the Volts' final game against Northern Districts, in Whangarei later this month.
Ryan Duffy will replace Broom in the squad. The Kaikorai top-order player has been struggling with a groin strain but passed a fitness test yesterday.
He will open the batting alongside Brad Wilson and Anaru Kitchen drops to No4 in the line-up, a position which should better suit the hard-hitting right-hander.
‘‘[Duffy] has had a couple of handy knocks during the last couple of seasons. He comes in and gets an opportunity and is really excited about that.''
Duffy has scored three half-centuries in 13 first-class appearances for Otago and has been in good form in the club competition.
Regular captain Hamish Rutherford was not considered. He is still recovering from the concussion he sustained during a Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts last month.
‘‘This game was always going to be a bit of push for him. He is hoping to play the last two but he has a process he is going through. We just have to wait on that.''
With test bowler Neil Wagner also unavailable (hand injury) and unlikely to feature again this season, the Volts are missing three key players.
Otago has only managed to win one first-class game this summer while Auckland has set the benchmark with five wins from seven games.
It leads the standings with 104 points from Canterbury (87) and Wellington (86). Northern Districts and Central Districts are in fourth and fifth place on 56 points with Otago dead last on 49 points.
King has resisted the opportunity to make sweeping changes.
‘‘We are still focused on winning these remaining games. It is not a case of we are out of the competition so we'll change the team up and get some new players in there. The guys that are there all deserve to be there.''
