But other than that, the Volts are approaching their preliminary final against Northern Districts in Dunedin today the way it would any other game.
The match is scheduled to get under way at 11am.
Otago has mostly had an afternoon slot, so the routine will kick into gear earlier and its a routine which has been producing some surprising results.
After pinning down last place for the last two seasons, Otago has rocketed up the Super Smash standings.
It finished the round-robin in second place with five wins, a tie and three losses from nine completed games.
Canterbury claimed pole position and home final courtesy of its eight-wicket win against Otago in Dunedin on Monday.
That was not the greatest dress rehearsal for the Volts but, by any estimation, Otago has had a terrific campaign and it is not done yet.
Captain Hamish Rutherford said the side was in a buoyant mood.
"We’re obviously doing a lot of good things because we just missed out on a home final," he said.
"And being at home on a pitch we’re used to, and in conditions we know, helps.
Everyone is fizzed," Rutherford said, adding for some of the players it would be their first taste of playoff cricket.
Makeshift opener Jake Gibson is in that camp. He started the season as a bowler who could add some value with the bat in the middle order.
With the Otago attack going so well, his opportunities dried up. But he embraced the offer to open the innings three games ago and has been a revelation.
He has lifted his season tally to 265 runs and they have come at an impressive strike rate of 149.71.
"He has come on really well," Rutherford said.
"He just makes smart decisions and just plays what is in front of him. And he is just hitting the ball so beautifully."
Ditto Dean Foxcroft. It may have slipped people’s mind, but before he joined Otago in 2019-20 the South African-born all-rounder had a season with Central Districts.
He top-scored in the T20 final with 63 from 50 balls to help the Stags defeat Northern Districts by 67 runs.
The 24-year-old has been instrumental in Otago’s change of fortune this season.
He is the competition’s leading scorer with 385 runs at 48.12 and needs a further 76 runs to reach 1000 career runs in the Super Smash.
Foxcroft also has the happy knack of taking wickets this season with nine so far. But Otago paceman Michael Rae has the joint most entries in the wickets column with 16.
Black Cap Jacob Duffy has been added to the side, but has been ill in the lead up to the game and will need to pass a fitness test.
Explosive opener Katene Clarke leads the Northern run tally with 165 from seven innings, and captain Jeet Raval and Tim Seifert bring plenty of big game experience, while Black Cap Mitchell Santner shapes as a threat with both the ball and bat.
Super Smash
Dunedin, 11am
Otago: Hamish Rutherford (captain), Jake Gibson, Dean Foxcroft, Max Chu, Michael Rippon, Llew Johnson, Josh Finnie, Ben Lockrose, Jacob Duffy, Matt Bacon, Michael Rae, Travis Muller, Dale Phillips.
Northern Districts: Tim Seifert, Katene Clarke, Jeet Raval (captain), Joe Carter, Henry Cooper, Mitchell Santner, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Neil Wagner, Tim Pringle, Freddy Walker, Joe Walker, Kristian Clarke.
