But an injury to left-armer Nick Beard means spinner Mark Craig will spearhead the slow-bowling efforts, with part-time legspinner Aaron Redmond there for back-up if required.
Beard injured his shoulder in a warm-up match against Canterbury last week and has been ruled out of Otago's opening Plunket Shield match against Canterbury in Rangiora, beginning on Saturday.
"Ideally, we would have liked to take two spinners due to the conditions we encountered up there in the warm-up match," Johnson said.
"In the seam department we have a number of options and a nice blend of youth and experience within this 12. We are lucky that a number of our bowlers are more than useful with the bat and this gives us a nice long order."
Pace bowlers Neil Wagner and James McMillan are likely to take the new ball, with Ian Butler and Jimmy Neesham the third and fourth seamers.
Eighteen-year-old fast bowler Jacob Duffy might get lumbered with the 12th man duties for this match but will get opportunities this summer.
All-rounder Sam Wells has been predominantly picked as a specialist batsman and will bat in the top six. But he is also a handy medium-pacer when he gets the ball to swing.
Neesham has shown great potential with the bat, particularly in one-day cricket. It will be interesting to see where he bats in the line-up in the long term.
Hamish Rutherford got an opportunity late last season and scored 607 runs in a calendar month.
He has started well again this season with a century in a warm-up match against Canterbury.
Rutherford will open with Aaron Redmond, who struggled in all three formats last season.
Otago will need him to rediscover his touch. Neil Broom is another who did not have the best of seasons.
"The players we have picked to bat in the top six have all scored runs in warm-up games, club cricket or with New Zealand A, so they picked themselves.
"It was especially pleasing to see Aaron Redmond back in nick last week and, as a senior player and quality batsman, we look forward to his contributions this season."
Back-up bowler Blair Soper was not considered due to injury and the McCullum brothers, Brendon and Nathan, will be in Sri Lanka with the Black Caps limited-overs side.
Otago team
To play Canterbury
Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), James Neesham, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Ian Butler, James McMillan, Jacob Duffy.
