Instead the Volts have had all week to choke down two painfully thin defeats. They lost to Auckland by two runs and Northern by 10 runs the following day.
''It was just the one-percenters that we just missed and that is why we lost,'' coach Dimitri Mascarenhas said.
''We took the game to the last over both times. But we are playing at about 75% and we are getting to the last over.
"If we do get up to 85-90% then we are going to start winning some games.''
Mascarenhas has shown faith in his line-up but hard-hitting batsman Iain Robertson joins the squad.
He was unavailable last weekend and, if named in the starting XI, will bring some much-needed hitting power in the middle order.
Otago's top five of Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Michael Bracewell, Nathan McCullum and Ryan ten Doeschate is a formidable line-up.
But the team lacked some power in the middle with Derek de Boorder and Sam Wells struggling to find the boundary when called upon.
Robertson's game is as subtle as a Mack Truck but the question is who would he replace in the line-up.
Mascarenhas said he would wait until he has seen the pitch before deciding on the playing XI.
But the obvious option would be to drop one of the three pace bowlers. When you have two bowlers in your top five (Ryder and McCullum) and a frugal spinner in Nick Beard, there is no need to play three quicks, particularly given the pitch is likely to be of a friendly pace.
James McMillan and Dirk Nannes are going for more than 10 runs an over but have a couple of wickets each. Jacob Duffy has been less expensive but has not managed to claim a wicket yet.
One of them appears likely to miss out although Wells could also find himself on the bench if Mascarenhas opts for the extra bowler. Doing nothing is also an option but whatever he decides, Mascarenhas wants an improved performance.
''There were a few too many boundary balls and batting-wise we need a few more singles and to rotate the strike a bit more.''
He was not tempted to rejig the top order and perhaps promote de Boorder who gaps the ball well.
''We're pretty happy. We've got ourselves into winning positions, we just have not finished it off, so it has had nothing to do with the order.
''We were a millimetre away from winning two games, so it is not panic stations yet.
''I have not had to say much [to the team]. They have been successful at this format of the game for a number of years now and they know what they need to do and are pretty much just getting on and doing that.''
The Volts play Auckland tonight and Wellington tomorrow night.
Auckland have added fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to its line-up while Tom Blundell replaces Brad Hodge in the Wellington side.
Super Smash
The teams
Otago: Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Michael Bracewell, Nathan McCullum, Ryan ten Doeschate (captain), Derek de Boorder, Iain Robertson, Sam Wells, Nick Beard, Jacob Duffy, Dirk Nannes, Bradley Scott, James McMillan.
Auckland: Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Colin Munro, Rob Nicol, Colin de Grandhomme, Carl Cachopa, Brad Cachopa, Tarun Nethula, Michael Bates, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan, Donovan Grobbelaar, Lockie Ferguson.
Wellington: Michael Pollard, Michael Papps, Stephen Murdoch, James Franklin (captain), Grant Elliott, Matthew Taylor, Jeetan Patel, Luke Fletcher, Dane Hutchinson, Brent Arnel, Luke Woodcock, Tom Blundell, Peter Younghusband.
