There were a few nervous moments, though. It was missing from the draw New Zealand Cricket initially put out yesterday afternoon.
But Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan confirmed Otago will host Northern Districts in a Plunket Shield game in Alexandra beginning on November 24.
"From my point of view, it is another opportunity to offer the districts first-class experience," Coggan said.
"And particularly for Molyneux Park, which has played a long and proud part prior.
"For us, it has some strategic importance because of the dry nature of Alexandra and the quality of the track there.
"It gives both teams the opportunity to hopefully play 400 overs of cricket and get a result."
Otago will open its first-class campaign against defending champion Canterbury in Christchurch on October 23.
It travels to Wellington and Auckland for round two and three respectively, before returning to Dunedin to host Central Districts at the University Oval on November 15-18.
The first-class tournament takes a break for the limited-overs formats following the match in Alexandra.
It resumes in March with Otago playing Central Districts at McLean Park in Napier.
The Volts will get an opportunity to finish strongly, with three of its final four games at the University Oval.
The final round gets under way on April 2. Otago usually hands back use of the ground to the University Rugby Football Club at the end of March but has been granted some leeway.
Otago’s one-day season gets under way against Canterbury on December 3 in Christchurch. Canterbury won the competition last season, so it is another tough opener.
The Volts play three of their four home games in Dunedin but will host Central Districts in Invercargill on February 4.
Otago finished last in all three formats last season but has brought in experienced campaigner Rob Nicol to captain the team and will be motivated to achieve better results.
The twenty20 draw was released last month.
2017-18 season
Otago’s draw
Plunket Shield
• October 23: v Canterbury, Christchurch
• October 30: v Wellington, Wellington
• November 7: v Auckland, Auckland
• November 15: v Central Districts, Dunedin
• November 24: v Northern Districts, Alexandra
• March 2: v Central Districts, Napier
• March 10: v Wellington, Dunedin
• March 17: v Northern Districts, Whangarei
• March 25: v Auckland, Dunedin
• April 2: v Canterbury, Dunedin
One-day
• December 3: v Canterbury, Rangiora
• December 6: v Wellington, Dunedin
• December 10: v Central Districts, New Plymouth
• January 27: v Canterbury, Dunedin
• January 31: v Wellington, Wellington
• February 4: v Central Districts, Invercargill
• February 7: v Northern Districts, Dunedin
• February 11: v Auckland, Auckland
