The New Zealand domestic cricket draw released yesterday includes a twenty/20 match between Otago and Auckland at Centennial Park on February 13.
The fixture is not set in stone, the venue still has to get approval from New Zealand Cricket, but Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes was confident Centennial Park would scrub up.
"All the signs are good at this stage," Dykes said.
"New Zealand Cricket want to ensure that the pitch is up to standard and they've made a couple of visits there over the winter and are pleased with what they see.
"The changing rooms have been spruced up and the council has done some work on the outfield," he added.
All that remains to be done is some "cosmetic work".
The venue was poised to return to the domestic schedule last season when a first-class match between Otago and Northern Districts was pencilled in.
But the fixture was whipped away when the ground failed to attain a warrant of fitness from New Zealand Cricket.
It would have been the first elite cricket game at the venue since Otago defeated Auckland by three wickets in a 50-over game in February 2005.
Oamaru is not the only district to benefit.
Central Otago has some enticing cricket matches to watch over the holiday period.
Alexandra will host two one-day matches, with Otago playing Northern on December 27 and Central on December 30.
The Queenstown Events Centre has its regular New Year's day international match with the Black Caps playing the West Indies.
Invercargill has not missed out either, with a one-day match between Otago and Wellington on January 25 and a State Championship game between Otago and Auckland from March 13-16.
"I think it is important we play games in the district," Dykes said.
"If they are going to survive . . . they've got to be able to host some meaningful matches."
Dykes said he was "thrilled" with the timing of the matches in Alexandra and pleased Oamaru was back on the domestic schedule.
He added how pleasing it was Queens Park in Invercargill was continuing to develop as a quality first-class venue.
"All in all, I'm thrilled the districts have put the effort in to get the grounds up to scratch."
The one down-side with taking cricket to the region was the spiralling increased costs of transport and accommodation.
But that added expense was off-set, he said, by promoting the game.
"Playing games in those regions is vital to encourage the youth to play the game and aspire to be the next Brendon McCullum or Craig Cumming."
The Otago Sparks will not play any matches in Dunedin this summer.
Both their home twenty/20 matches are in Invercargill and Alexandra as are the four home one-day matches.
