The side started its ITM Cup campaign with a narrow 32-29 win over Bay of Plenty at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday but thoughts have moved to what lies ahead in Hamilton. Brown said the side needed to treasure the moment and be prepared to play.
''I think it is just a great experience for these young guys to be involved in the Ranfurly Shield. All we can do is go up there and give it our best shot.
''We have got a short turnaround, so we have to prepare well and go up there and, hopefully, we can play a little better than we did tonight.
''With only five days between games, Brown said much of the focus for this week would be on getting the recovery from yesterday's game right.
The side would probably have just one full training run before flying to Hamilton on Thursday.
The focus had to be on running on to the park on Friday night in the right frame of mind.
''We have just got to make sure when we take the field we are ready to play and ready to get physical. The Ranfurly Shield is another step up.''
Otago was far from on-song yesterday, although it showed plenty of guts to come back from an early 13-point deficit to finish just in front in what was a typical early season game.
Brown said he was pleased to win, although at times it was not much to look at.
''There is definitely plenty to work on. She wasn't pretty but we got the job done.''
The side had showed some steel to come back and brought some aggression into its game.
Brown had told it at halftime it had to show more fight and energy.
''We just needed to stop their momentum and go forward. It was just a matter of guys getting in a decent line, going forward and putting in a decent shot and get us in the game, really.
''In that first half, we were very passive, really. We were sitting back, waiting for someone else to do something. Good sides just go out there, individuals just put their hand up and lead the side.''
It was Otago's first win over a premiership team for two seasons, although Brown did not buy into that achievement, saying it was just a game against Bay of Plenty that the side won.
He praised Hayden Parker's goal-kicking and all-round game, saying the first five-eighth was turning into a leader for the team.
Loose forward Gareth Evans also won praise.
''He is really good over the ball. Just his work rate and the athletic ability he has to get round the field. He had an outstanding game.''
Big loose forward TJ Ioane came on after 50 minutes and played his usual bustling style, which was too much at times for the Bay of Plenty team.
''With the way he came on, it really changed the game for us ... When he is fresh and everyone else is just a little bit tired, then he is unstoppable.''
Brown said Ioane would mix it up between starting and coming off the bench through the season.
