It is not what you think.
They have been in Wellington preparing for their season-opener in under a fortnight. They played a warm-up game on Wednesday on a hybrid wicket.
And by hybrid wicket, we mean not all the grass is real.
Some of it is artificial like the the turf at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It worked out well for the Volts.
They ran through the Firebirds lineup quickly — so quickly most of the top order came out to bat again.
They ended their turn at bat at 233 for 16 after the best part of 41 overs.
New Otago recruit Danru Ferns nabbed four wickets and Matt Bacon and Jack Boyle grabbed three each.
Logan van Beek top-scored for Wellington with 43, and Sam Mycock made 31 from 19 balls in his second innings.
Otago cruised to a six-wicket win.
They lost openers Jacob Cumming (6) and Boyle (8) cheaply. But Jamal Todd thumped 58 from 35 balls and then Johnson and Johnson took over.
Former Firebird Troy Johnson (47 not out) and Llew Johnson (73 not out) combined in an unbeaten stand of 132.
Llew blasted two sixes and eight fours, while Troy had to be more patient.
Volts coach Josh Tasman-Jones told the Otago Daily Times earlier in the week the team would play two one-day games followed by a T20 on Friday before returning home to Dunedin ahead of their opening one-dayer against Canterbury in Christchurch on October 25.
The games were an opportunity for the Volts to "firm up our style of play and get clear on building our identity".
"The boys made huge progress, particularly with our white ball game in the last season or two.
"We’re just building on that. Obviously, we’ve got a few new faces. And getting the boys some time in the middle, getting some confidence up would be ideal."
Tasman-Jones said the preseason had been productive.
They have been training on grass at the marquee at Tonga Park and have had two trips away — one to Alexandra to polish their playing skills and the other to Naseby, which was a team-building trip.
