The Plunket Shield will take a step into the unknown with all three round seven games getting under way in the afternoon and finishing under lights at night.
The traditional ''morning session'' will shift to 2.30pm to 4.30pm. The middle session is slated for 4.50pm to 6.50pm, and the final session will get under way at 7.30pm, with stumps planned for 9.30pm.
Volts coach Rob Walter is looking forward to the challenge the pink ball and lights will present.
''I think it is a great initiative and I know I'm excited about it and the players are as well,'' Walter said.
''It is something different. We'll spend a couple of days practising with the pink balls and getting used to those.
''And I guess the different time zone, of sorts, will be an interesting dynamic on its own.''
A resurgent Otago team will train under lights the night before the game and will practise during the twilight on Saturday. In a season dotted with disappointment, the Volts have won four of their past five games.
Three of those wins came at the end of the one-day campaign. But Otago took that form into its Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts and secured a meritorious five-wicket win in Whangarei earlier this week.
The team fielded a young attack featuring 18-year-old Nathan Smith, 21-year-old Michael Rae and the veteran of the pack, 22-year-old Jacob Duffy.
Against a batting line-up which included test keeper BJ Watling, former international Daniel Flynn, and hard-hitting Black Caps all-rounder Corey Anderson, there was potential for the game to blow up. But Otago's young trio took its opportunity and shone.
Smith claimed his maiden first-class five-wicket bag in the first innings. Rae bowled some energetic spells without always getting the rewards he deserved, and Duffy got the ball to swing again, which was hugely satisfying for Walter.
He made the call to send Duffy back to the nets to work on his action and he has re-emerged as the Duffy of old. His accuracy is back and he is getting the ball to hoop in and even cut away.
''They are all busy learning while they are playing, which is not ideal but it is what it is,'' Walter said.
''I'm just happy with the progress that the guys have made in a short space of time. And we are talking about some young cricketers, really, so it is good but we must not get ahead of ourselves. We've got to continue learning and continue getting better.''
The arrival of left arm leg-spinner Michael Rippon has coincided with Otago's resurgence. He has been able to tie up an end, which means the Volts can use their seamers in shorter and more aggressive spells from the other end.
And experienced batsman Anaru Kitchen has come into some impressive form deep in the season. He guided Otago to its first Plunket Shield win of the season with an undefeated 120.
Canterbury chased down the target of 324 set for it by Wellington to win the Plunket Shield match which finished at the Basin Reserve yesterday by seven wickets, thanks to opener Chad Bowes' 149 off 187 deliveries and an unbeaten 89-run fourth-wicket partnership by Henry Nicholls (71) and Cole McConchie (47).
