The Volts were the only team to go through the championship campaign undefeated and took an enormous amount of pride from battling back from some precarious positions to keep their record intact.
But the province finished in fourth place, three points behind Auckland, which was beaten outright on three occasions, and eight points behind Canterbury, which also tasted defeat.
"We are well aware it is wins which get you into the final and we will be looking to do what we can to ensure that happens," Otago coach Mike Hesson.
"We'll play an aggressive style of cricket. But in a lot of those draws last year we were very much behind the eight-ball trying to save the match. It wasn't like there was a lot we could do in the majority of those."
Otago gets its four-day season under way against Northern Districts at the University Oval today.
Hesson said his side could not have had a better build-up. Dunedin has been bathed in sun and everyone has had an opportunity to brush the cobwebs off and get some solid cricket behind them.
"It has been pretty comprehensive, really, with club cricket and the districts cricket and our trial matches.
"Everyone has had a very good build-up so now we are just keen to get into it," he said.
The Volts will be without experienced medium-pacer Warren McSkimming, who was ruled out with a calf strain, and left-arm seamer Craig Smith will have to sit on the sidelines for another two or three weeks after injuring a hamstring.
Three players will be making their debut. South African-born opening bowler Neil Wagner and former Black Cap Ian Butler make their first appearance for Otago, and Hamish Rutherford makes his first-class debut.
Butler transferred from Northern Districts and has essentially swapped places with left-arm seamer Bradley Scott.
Scott was one of Otago's leading performers in the past three seasons and played a crucial role in its successful one-day campaign.
He will be making his debut for ND, and though familiar with the University Oval layout, he may need directions to the away changing rooms.
Brent Arnel, Graeme Aldridge and Trent Boult round out an impressive seam attack.
Top-order batsman Michael Parlane has returned to ND and will bolster a batting line-up which includes James Marshall and the promising BJ Watling.
• State Championship - Teams
Otago: Craig Cumming (c), Hamish Rutherford, Greg Todd, Neil Broom, Shaun Haig, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, James McMillan, Mat Harvie.
Northern Districts: James Marshall (c), Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Peter McGlashan, Bruce Martin, Cameron Merchant, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Joseph Yovich.
