Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says he has been impressed by the performance of Otago players in the ITM Cup but the real test of their abilities will come when they face off against the top teams.
Otago made a great start to the season, including winning the Ranfurly Shield after a 56-year wait.
But it promptly lost the shield to Hawkes Bay in a nailbiter and then had a disappointing performance against Tasman last Friday night.
It plays defending champion Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday, which will be a real test of the side's abilities.
The team has plenty of promising players who will be pushing for a place at the next level.
Joseph said he had watched a few ITM Cup games and some guys were coming through.
''Otago do have some players who have come on leaps and bounds,'' he said.
''It is hard to judge, though. We need to see how they will go against the bigger teams. But some of the players have done particularly well.''
He was loath to pick out players and said the overall competition was one where Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury was dominating.
He said that was not surprising, as they were the teams with the most Super 15 players.
Joseph said he was pleased to see Otago players who had joined the Highlanders this year playing well.
''Someone like TJ [Ioane] has come along good and I think he is benefiting from the experiences he received at the next level.''
He also praised the play of halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and first five-eighth Hayden Parker.
The Highlanders have until the end of next month to finalise their squad for the 2014 season and the coaching staff will spend time watching ITM Cup games and viewing possible recruits.
With franchise direct contracting, the days of Super 15 teams looking exclusively at players from their own region have long gone.
Players come from far and wide to join teams and Otago players have no more advantage for making the Highlanders than a player from any other province.
Joseph had previously said he would sign a local player over someone from another province.
The Highlanders have signed more than 25 players already and are expected to reveal more signings at the end of the month.
Joseph is just back from two weeks' coaching in Texas, where he joined Chiefs coach Dave Rennie and former All Black No8 Murray Mexted in tutoring players and coaches.
He said it was different from coaching the Highlanders, as rugby was not a major sport in the country.
The opportunity came up through Mexted's International Rugby Academy, and the trio took clinics in Dallas, Austin and Houston.