While most of us are sinking a little bit deeper into the couch than normal and reaching for another chocolate truffle, the Volts will have to avoid a second helping.
The team has three games in six days, starting with a match against Northern Districts in Hamilton this afternoon.
The Volts have named a squad with plenty of slow bowling options in the expectation the surface at Seddon Park will be on the slow side.
With Black Caps batsman Neil Broom on international duty, the Volts have called in off spinner Mark Craig.
He may end up carrying the drinks as Rob Nicol and Anaru Kitchen are likely to lead the spin attack, with Josh Finnie providing another option. Hamish Rutherford has even bowled a few overs recently and could be another option.
But it is batsmen who make the big difference in twenty20 and Otago has been working on two specific areas before this game.
The death overs are always a work in progress but coach Rob Walter wants his batting line-up to show more intent during the four-over period following the powerplay.
"We want to operate better in the 7-10 overs phase, when we are moving out of the powerplay — with both the bat and ball," he said.
"It is certainly an area we are paying attention to. And the death is an ongoing work-on for pretty much everyone, because it is so instrument in the game."
A key challenge for the Otago batsmen will be finding ways to keep the scoreboard moving when spinners Ish Sodhi and Anton Devcich are operating.
"I expect they will bowl a lot of overs of spin at us ... and we will gear up for that."
Otago suffered a record loss to Canterbury in its opening game and its next fixture against Wellington was ruined by weather, so the team has not played since December 14.
The Volts had an intrasquad game earlier this week on what proved to be a slow surface at the University Oval, which Walter felt was good preparation for today’s match.
The break has given the team time to "refresh mentally" and move on from a dismal 134-run loss to Canterbury. And Walter said the team has had a "really good week of prep".
Northern Districts have made one change to the team which beat Wellington by one run on Wednesday.
Pace bowler Scott Kuggeleijn is sidelined with an ankle complaint and English international Chris Jordan replaces him in the line-up.
Super Smash
Hamilton, today, 2pm
Otago: Rob Nicol (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Shawn Hicks, Jimmy Neesham, Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Josh Finnie, Brad Wilson, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Warren Barnes, Mark Craig.
Northern Districts: (possible) Anton Devcich, Tim Seifert, Dean Brownlie, Brett Hampton, Daniel Flynn, Daryl Mitchell, Nick Kelly, Peter Bocock, Chris Jordan, Ish Sodhi, Brent Arnel, Brett Randell.
