Otago plays Manawatu in its final game of the season tonight, in a match which had been set down for August 17 but was postponed because the weather made it impossible for Manawatu to fly south.
With the match of academic interest only, thoughts turn to next year and what, if any, progress has been made this season.
Otago could only go one way this season, after finishing 14th last year, and a win tonight would see it finish third in the championship, or 10th overall.
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Reid said planning had started already for next season.
Of the players who took the field for Otago this year, 17 will be back next year.
Many of the players were in the first year of two-year deals.
He declined to name all 17 players but he said with 28 players needed for a squad it was usual to have about 60% of them tied up by now for next season. "There may be some who you want to pin down early, while others you may be prepared to wait. Or it may depend on what position these guys are in and what else is out there," Reid said.
"There are some players who we may not be looking at re-signing and we owe it to them to tell them that sooner, rather than later."
Captain Tom Donnelly and fullback Ben Smith are two men who have signed on for next season.
Otago had a clean-out at the end of last season, and signed more than a dozen players, some of whom have prospered more than others this season.
Tony Brown starts from the bench for Otago tonight and Kees Meeuws will prop up the scrum but the playing future for the experienced duo is unclear.
Meeuws is 37 - the oldest player in the squad - and though he will not formally hang up his boots yet, there must be doubts whether he can truck around again.
Reid said Brown (36) would leave for Japan early next month, to coach the Sanyo team next year.
The union was still talking to Brown about a role next year.
Brown has acted as the technical adviser for the team, and been heavily involved on the coaching side.
Co-coaches Andy Hunter and Phil Mooney are coming to the end of their contracts, and a review will also be carried out on their positions.
Mooney is finishing a two-year contract while Hunter had a one-year contract. Mooney said he had not given a lot of thought to his future while Hunter is set to resume his position as principal at Balmacewen Intermediate next month. Hunter said he had enjoyed the job but had not even thought about next year.
Reid said the season had started full of promise, with the side winning its first two games, but did not quite kick on as hoped.
A good finish from Otago tonight would put a touch of gloss on what has been a middling season.
Manawatu has put king playmaker Aaron Cruden to the bench though Aaron Smith starts at halfback.
Donnelly is forced to miss the game because of an ankle injury he picked up against Canterbury last Saturday, which allows Tom Franklin to make his starting debut. Halfback Sean Romans will captain the side.
Regan Tamihere has knee and ankle injuries and is replaced on the openside flank by Adam Hill.
Otago v Manawatu
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tonight, 7.35
Referee: Vinny Munro (Canterbury)
TAB odds: Otago $1.65, Manawatu $2.15
Otago: Ben Smith, Joe Hill, Ben Atiga, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Sean Romans (captain), Gareth Evans, Adam Hill, TJ Ioane, Tom Franklin, Daniel Ramsay, Kees Meeuws, Jason Macdonald, Scott Manson.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Pieter van der Merwe, James McGougan, Rob Verbakel, Paul Grant, Johnny Legg, Tony Brown, Jayden Spence.
Manawatu: Nehe Milne-Skudder, Casey Stone, Lewis Marshall, Aseli Tikoirotuma, Waisea Qioata, Isaac Thompson, Aaron Smith, Hamish Gosling, Doug Tietjens, Nick Crosswell (captain), Reece Robinson, Fraser Stone, David Te Moana, Rob Foreman, Jared Brock.
Reserves: Bryn Templeman, Grant Polson, Michael Fitzgerald, James Oliver, Karl Bryson, Aaron Cruden, Tomasi Cama, Ma'afu Fia.
