The 26-year-old carpenter has been labouring away in the A tournament for the past three years. With so many quality spinners ahead of him, his prospects did not look that positive.
But a run of events has conspired in his favour and there is every chance he will make his first-class debut when Otago plays Northern Districts in Hamilton today.
Test spinner Mark Craig has been sidelined with a knee complaint. Left-armer Nick Beard's action was ruled illegal earlier this summer and he is out for the remainder of the season, and Nathan McCullum is part of the Black Caps World Cup squad.
All-rounder Josh Finnie, and his off-breaks, debuted for Otago last week. But with the Seddon Park pitch expected to turn, coach Dimitri Mascarenhas has opted for another slow-bowling option. That is where Phillips comes in.
''It was a wee bit of a surprise, yeah,'' he said.
''When I heard [Mark Craig] had gone down it seemed a bit more likely. But I didn't think I was going to make it.
''I've had one or two trials over the past few years and I've been playing in the A tournament for the last three years.''
Phillips, who took six wickets at an average of 42.66 in the A tournament this season, was unsure whether he would be in the playing XI today but it seems likely, given the game is being played on a used wicket at a venue where it spins.
If Phillips does make the starting XI, he is determined to make the most of the opportunity.
''I'm pretty excited by the prospect. I can't wait. I'm just happy to be part of it.''
Phillips replaces strike bowler Neil Wagner who is being rested. Northern Districts have made two changes to the side which lost to Canterbury by 301 runs last week.
Opener Daniel Flynn has been ruled out with a hamstring strain. Brad Wilson takes his spot. Seamer Scott Kuggeleijn is also unavailable and spinner Jono Boult comes into the 12.
The game is a crucial encounter. Otago is in second place with 71 points, while Northern is in fourth place with 70 points. With a maximum of 20 points available, a win for the Volts would set them up nicely for a push at the title.
• An unbroken eighth wicket stand helped lift Wellington into a solid position at stumps on the opening day of its Plunket Shield match against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park yesterday, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Having been sent in, Wellington was in ordinary shape at 232 for seven before Brady Barnett (46 not out) and Matt McEwan (29 not out) put on 63 to have Wellington start today at 295 for seven.
In Nelson, leader Canterbury was 329 for five, having been sent in by Central Districts, when bad light cut the day short.
The highlight of the day was a rapid 88 off 80 balls by former Auckland international spinner Ronnie Hira.
Plunket Shield
Otago v Northern Districts, Hamilton, starting today
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Aaron Redmond (captain), Michael Bracewell, Ryan Duffy, Jesse Ryder, Derek de Boorder, Josh Finnie, Craig Smith, Michael Rae, Jacob Duffy, Rhys Phillips, Roald Badenhorst
Northern Districts: Dean Brownlie, Brad Wilson, Joe Carter, Daryl Mitchell, Anton Devcich, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Jono Boult, Graeme Aldridge, James Baker, Brent Hampton
