Otago coach Nathan King rates the New Zealand under-19 right-armer highly and wants to see the young man in action for the province at some stage.
That could be as early as next week's home game against Central Districts, or the teenager might have to wait until Otago's trip to Whangarei to play Northern Districts later in the month.
"We'll just have to wait and see,'' King said when asked if Smith was poised to make his first-class debut this season.
"I'd like to see him bowl at some stage.
"He has come on a lot. We've known about him for a number of years and I think he has made massive strides in his game during the past 12 months.
"He is getting strong, he is maturing, he's bowling quicker, so he is certainly one for the future.
"But we've also got Blair Soper as well. He has been 12th man for the last two games and is bowling really well in the nets. I'd love to be able to give him an opportunity as well and just see where he is at.''
Otago has just two first-class matches remaining and is out of contention, so blooding new players makes sound sense.
But who and when?
"You can't fit everyone in,'' King said.
"It is the same with our batsmen. I've wanted to have Ryan Duffy play a number of games as well but we haven't been able to fit him in. He showed in this game that he is ready to play at this level. It has just been difficult to find a game for him.''
Duffy became just the seventh Otago batsman to carry his bat through an "all out innings'' with his knock of 90 not out against Auckland this week.
