Just how is it a side with so much experience and talent is hovering towards the bottom of the one-day competition table?
Wellington has won just two of its six completed games and, regardless of the outcome of today's match against Otago in Invercargill, it will not feature in the play-offs.
Incredible, when you consider it boasts eight past or present Black Caps in its line-up.
But despite some lacklustre performances from the visitors, Otago coach Vaughn Johnson remains wary.
There is a lot riding on the game for his side. The Volts can still finish on top of competition table if they beat Wellington and Central Districts tips up Auckland at Pukekura Park, in New Plymouth. So there is no room for complacency. Not that it is an issue.
"They're a good side," Johnson said.
"They have a good bowling attack and they're a good batting side. It is a matter of having to do it on the day.
"And they showed they can beat anyone with their win against Auckland."
Otago loses the services of dangerous all-rounder Nathan McCullum but welcomes back fellow Black Caps all-rounder Sam Wells.
Wells was added to the test squad for one-off test andmissed Otago's five-run win against Northern Districts in Hamilton on Sunday.
McCullum played a big hand in that victory with a rapid 90 from just 43 deliveries and a tidy two for 37 with the ball.
It is the sort of form the Blacks Caps will be hoping he can repeat in the limited-over games against Zimbabwe and South Africa this month.
"He dominated with the bat and got us to where we should have been," Johnson said.
"But Wells will come in and play a different role. He may not hit every ball out of the park, but he certainly has the ability to work it around and get a big score. So I'm not too worried about the batting. It is more what we lose in the slow bowling department.
"Nick Beard is our frontline spinner and we've got bits and pieces with [Aaron] Redmond and [Neil] Broom."
The only other change to the Otago side sees promising left-arm seamer Jacob Duffy added to the squad. The 17-year-old Southland Boys' High School pupil made a sensational debut for the province last month with three for 19 in a twenty/20 game against Northern Districts in Hamilton.
While Wellington has struggled, it discovered some form in the last round with 102-run win against the top-of-the-table Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.
Former internationals Mark Gillespie and Jeetan Patel combined to take five wickets and another Black Caps discard, Michael Papps, anchored the innings with a fine 90 from 106 deliveries.
The Firebirds have plenty of experience with Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Andy McKay and Luke Woodcock also having played cricket for New Zealand.
And then there is the return of Jesse Ryder. The dashing Black Caps opener has been out with a calf strain since Wellington's twenty/20 game against Central Districts on December 27.
He had a knock for his club side Naenae Old Boys in the weekend, scoring an undefeated 40. A good performance for Wellington might help put him back in the frame for the Black Caps.
Ford Trophy
Invercargill, today
• Otago: Aaron Redmond (captain), Neil Broom, Michael Bracewell, Craig Cumming, Sam Wells, Darren Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, James McMillan, Jacob Duffy.
• Wellington: Grant Elliott (c), Harry Boam, Josh Brodie, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Scott Kuggeleijn, Andy McKay, Stephen Murdoch, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Luke Woodcock.
