Bates (26), an aggressive right-hand batsman, was named the international women's one-day cricketer of the year for 2013.
She leads the batting statistics in the New Zealand one-day competition with 581 runs at an average of 72.62.
Bates will play a key role for Otago in the final against Auckland at Melville Park today.
She will be backed up by experienced players Katey Martin and Sarah Tsukigawa, who are solid batsmen. Between them they have played more than 200 games for Otago and their experience will be invaluable.
Otago also has a useful bowling attack with Leigh Kasperek, Emma Campbell and Victoria Abbott. They are all in the top 10 wicket taker list this season.
Abbott is a member of the New Zealand Emerging Players squad and Campbell is a former White Fern.
Campbell, a tricky leg-spin bowler, is a prolific wicket taker and is expected to play a key role.
This is the second year former Black Caps coach Warren Lees has been in charge of the Otago Sparks and he has developed a positive and winning approach in the team.
Lees, a wily campaigner, has been named interim coach of the White Ferns.
It will not be an easy task for the Otago at Melville Park today. Auckland secured the home advantage with back to back wins over the Sparks in the final weekend of the round-robin competition.
Auckland has a consistent top order and the second-best bowler in the competition, in Georgia Guy, who is a member of the New Zealand Emerging Players squad.
Otago won the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in the 1962-63 season and this is the first time it has made the final since the new competition started in 1998.
It will be a busy time for Auckland, which plays Otago in the one-day final today and the Canterbury Magicians in the twenty20 final tomorrow. Both games are in Auckland.
Women's cricket:One-day final
Who: Otago v Auckland.
Where: Melville Park, Auckland.
When: Today, 10.30am.
ROAD TO FINAL: Otago
• Beat Northern Districts by 5 wickets
• Beat Northern Districts by 9 wickets
• Beat Wellington by 22 runs
• Lost Wellington by 9 wickets
• Beat Central Districts by 98 runs
• Beat Central Districts by 73 runs
• Beat Canterbury by 6 wickets
• Beat Canterbury by 9 wickets
• Lost Auckland by 37 runs
• Lost Auckland by 160 runs
LEADING CONTRIBUTORS
• Suzie Bates 581 runs at 72.62, including one century
• Katey Martin 281 runs at 40.14, including one century
• Sarah Tsukigawa 237 runs at 29.62
• Leigh Kasperek 18 wickets at 17.94, including one five-wicket bag
• Victoria Abbott 10 wickets at 16.4, including one five-wicket bag
• Emma Campbell 12 wickets at 26.50
