The odds are against Otago but captain Craig Cumming believes the Volts can overcome the obstacles and beat Central Districts at Molyneux Park today.
Central Districts has had two bonus-point wins and leads the State Shield one-day competition after two rounds with 10 points.
It is followed by Canterbury 6, Northern Districts 5, Wellington 4, Otago 2 and Auckland 0.
Defending champion Otago gained its two points courtesy of the rained-out game in Christchurch.
It gave a disappointing display when outplayed by Northern Districts at Molyneux Park on Saturday.
"Central Districts is the form side and is playing well," Cumming said from Alexandra yesterday.
"They have also won three of their four four-day games and are travelling well."
Otago hit rock bottom with its nine-wicket loss to Northern Districts on its home turf at Alexandra.
Cumming, an experienced campaigner, understands the fickleness of the one-day game.
"We are a good one-day side with a point to prove," Cumming said.
"We must go out on to the paddock with confidence and enthusiasm and use the skills we have."
Cumming has a positive approach to life and does not believe in dwelling on past disappointments.
"The Northern Districts game is behind us. We have played the game and it is buried," he said.
"One-day cricket is like that. You can have a bad day and then bounce back in the next game. We haven't got any scars from the Northern game."
But he understands that it will not be easy.
"We need to play hard for 100 overs," he said.
The good news for Otago is that new international Neil Broom will play before travelling to Queenstown for the one-day international against the West Indies.
"We are close to Queenstown and there is little travelling involved,"Cumming said.
"Neil earned his selection through consistent performances at a high level. I hope it is the start of a long international career for him."
The Otago team is unchanged for the game.
Central Districts has made two changes from the team that outplayed Wellington.
New twenty/20 international Ewen Thompson has replaced Kieran Noema-Barnett and George Worker comes in for Jamie How.
Central Districts coach Dermot Reeve has kept his team grounded.
"I expect the players to give maximum effort and just concentrate on each ball," he said.
"A team performs best if they are relaxed, confident and enjoy their cricket. Winning helps the confidence."
Otago v Central Districts
Molyneux Park, Alexandra, today, 11am
Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Aaron Redmond, Greg Todd, Neil Broom, Shaun Haig, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Warren McSkimming, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Craig Smith.
Central Districts: Doug Bracewell, Peter Ingram, George Worker, Mathew Sinclair (captain), Bevan Griggs, Tim Weston, Brendon Diamanti, Ewen Thompson, Robert Schaw, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan.
