Steve Hepburn

The Scorpions women's volleyball team will go from all but empty gymnasiums into a packed cauldron.

The Highlanders First XV competition has been deemed a success with the standard of play well above expectations.

Otago is facing injury problems in its midfield with both Luke Herden and Brett Mather out of Friday night's clash against Northland.

Lacking a knockout punch, Otago fell 19-12 to Manawatu in Palmerston North last night.

After 84 games and thousands of kilometres of travelling, it all goes on the line in Invercargill this afternoon.

It is a long way from the back paddock in Palmerston to the glitz of Melbourne and France, but that is where young motocross rider Courtney Duncan appears headed.

The race to the final in the top-four section of the Highlanders First XV competition will go to the last round of games.

Otago lock Tom Donnelly has been called into the All Blacks training squad and his chance to make a test debut appears to depend on the seriousness of an injury to fellow lock Bryan Evans.

Otago has resisted making wholesale changes to its side to face North Harbour at Carisbrook tomorrow night.

Otago got into the winning column and nabbed an important bonus point when it beat North Harbour 29-9 at Carisbrook in Dunedin last night.

Otago has made just a couple of changes to its side to face Manawatu in Palmerston North tomorrow night.

Lawrence halfback James Kenny has been called into the Otago side to replace the injured Johnny Legg.

A win will do wonders for the self-belief of his side, Otago coach Steve Martin believes.

A player development manager will be appointed by the Otago Rugby Football Union to replace the academy manager.