The order of matches is on a five-year rotational system with Otago playing the strong Canterbury octet and Southland today.
Canterbury is led by No1 Tom Parker, who is in fine form having made the final of the New Zealand Amateur Championship a week ago.
Canterbury has no weak links and the Otago players will all have to play well to give the team a chance of a win.
The top echelon of Southland golf has been on fire lately with Scott Hellier and Liam Balneaves making the final of the Otago championships with a blitz of birdies over Labour weekend.
Hellier also impressed on the national scene, scoring an impressive 60 on the Russley course during the amateur qualifying rounds
Otago should be too strong for Southland but it will be imperative that Otago's tail performs well.
Otago will have an easier run tomorrow against Aorangi although Tasman can often be an unknown quantity.
Otago has finished second in the national event for the past three years but has failed to dominate the South Island event.
The team last won the title at Russley in 2014 having gifted the title to Canterbury at Westport in 2015 and St Clair last year.
Good performances by the eight Otago individuals will be crucial as it is their last chance to impress and gain selection for the national interprovincial event in December.
Highly rated James Anstiss was in the mix at one stage but his application for exemption from stage one of professional qualifying has been turned down and he will not be available for the national event.
