The Otago Boys' High School First XI will play in the senior grade this summer and is not there just to make up the numbers, coach Ken Rust says.
Ostensibly, of course, that is exactly why the school side has been included. Its presence means the eight-team competition can avoid a bye round.
Otago Country will play in the first round of the one-day tournament, which gets under way today. But when it pulls out to concentrate on the Hawke Cup, Otago Boys' will take its place.
It is a great opportunity for the school team to play against opposition which will provide a stern test every week. The question is whether it becomes an experience which creates or crushes confidence.
There are also some genuine safety concerns. First-class cricketers play in the competition from time to time and bowl at a pace which could present a serious risk to the youngsters.
''Players' safety and confidence will be the prime concern we have,'' Rust said.
''We won't expose any of the younger players but, by the end of the first round, the Volts have pretty much gone from the senior competition and hardly feature at all from December onwards.
''From our point of view, we have been looking for an opportunity for a couple of years.
''It is a chance for the better players to test themselves at the senior level and still remain part of the First XI.''
Otago Boys' has the option of bringing in players from outside the school to boost its experience and to protect its players.
Rust has spoken to ''three or four'' senior cricketers who have expressed interest in helping the school.
He was eager to point out the opportunity to play in the senior grade was also open to other schools.
''If, like us, they qualify for the Gillette Cup and are at the top of senior reserve, then the clubs have said that opportunity is open - to take up the bye - if any school proves they are strong enough.''
Rust said every year at the Gillette Cup there were three or four schools which played in senior grade cricket competitions, so this would help put Dunedin school teams on a more equal footing.
As far as competing, Rust was certainly not expecting miracles. The team played a warm-up game against Green Island last month. First-class players Bradley Scott and Blair Soper opened the bowling for Green Island and provided the school team with a reality check.
Green Island has won five of the last six titles so it was no surprise Otago Boys' was off the pace.
Green Island will once again field a strong team featuring a familiar cast of Mark Joyce, Dion Lobb and Scott Simpson. Left-arm seamer Scott returns to the Swamp Rats after a stint playing first-class cricket for Northern Districts. New Zealand test opener Hamish Rutherford is listed in the squad but is unlikely to play much cricket for his club this summer.
Kaikorai dropped to fourth spot after winning the title in 2011-12. Fringe Otago all-rounder Iain Robertson will lead the side again and is a key player.
Keep a close eye on the form of Ryan Duffy. The top-order batsman will be looking to force his way into the Otago side.
Albion's team list looks frightening, with the McCullum brothers Brendon and Nathan still affiliated with the club. The reality is they are unlikely to feature in the competition. The club did well to nab second place last season and will be looking for a similar effort.
North East Valley had a mixed season but will work hard to end its 17-year drought. The Murley brothers - Jamie and Simon - are back again for the Valley.
Taieri has fallen away in recent years. The club won three titles in five years between 2002-03 and 2006-07. Since then, Green Island has dominated.
Carisbrook-Dunedin is in a similar boat to Taieri. It last won the title in 2000-01 and was off the pace last summer, finishing bottom in the Bing Harris. It really struggled in the Declaration Cup.
University-Grange was consistently poor. It finished in the bottom three of all three competitions which count towards the Bing Harris.
Dunedin club cricket squads
GREEN ISLAND
Last season: Champion.
Gains: Bradley Scott, Matt Lobb.
Loss: Jamie Munro.
Squad: Hamish Rutherford, Gregor Croudis, Ben Patston, Scott Simpson, Anthony Harris, Henry Blackwell, Mark Joyce, Ben Williamson, Bradley Scott, Freddy Klassen, Russell Ritchie, Dion Lobb, Blair Soper, Nathan Watt, Matt Lobb, Jarrad Waldron.
ALBION
Last year: Second.
Gains: Jack Harper, Chris Harris, Nathan Sims.
Losses: Mitch Ryan, Sam Ward, Dion McCall.
Squad: Jamie Glenn (captain), Tom Dixon, Tim Ford, Jack Harper, Mike O'Sullivan, Matt West, Mark Somerville, Daniel Ingram, Mike Lawrence, Josh Cuttance, Nathan Shanks, Nathan Sims, Greg Knowles, Michael Snedden, Blair Brown, Matt Brown, Chris Harris, Chris Morris, Andrew Prouse, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Neil Wagner, Mark Craig, Nick Beard.
NORTH EAST VALLEY
Last year: Third.
Gains: Adam Miles, Hamish O'Brien.
Losses: Darren Broom, Charlie Hendry, Jesse Ruwhiu, Florian Schmidt.
Squad: Nic Aloo, Jerram Bateman, Sam Blakely, James Brinsdon, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Tom Griffin, Isaac Gutschlag, Ted Haggas, Keegan Harrison, Will Kindley, Adam Miles, Jens Moller, Jamie Murley, Simon Murley, Jimmy Neesham, Hamish O'Brien, Nick Pearse-Smith, Simon Smaill, Sam Tallott, Lance Taylor, Russell Thomas, Anthony Wilkinson.
KAIKORAI
Last year: Fourth.
Gains: None.
Losses: None.
Squad: Geordie Scott, Matt Hunter, Iain Robertson (captain), Dan Duke, Craig Sneddon, Tim Muir, Liam Cotton, Alec Hodgson, Ryan Duffy, Jacob Duffy, Hamish Robertson, Ricky Black, George Inwood, George Thomas, James Bevin, Shammika Rodrigo, Marcus Frost.
TAIERI
Last year: Fifth.
Gain: Brad Frost.
Losses: None.
Squad: Ash Simpson, Sam Pringle, Corey Hart, Simon Cromarty, Tim Clydesdale, Clint Hayward, Matt McCallum, Toby Batchelor, Dwayne Weir, Jarrod Casey, Jack Hunter, Brad Frost, Tony Hannagan, Josh Milne, Matt Bruce, Logan Smart.
UNIVERSITY-GRANGE
Last year: Sixth.
Gains: Luke Williamson, Chris Beck, Brenton Thompson, Callum Stewart.
Losses: David Goddard, Steve Jakeway, James Bishop.
Squad: Jason Hynes, Cam Rutherford, Aaron Redmond, Michael Bracewell, Sam Wells, James McMillian, Ian Butler, Jesse Simpson, Michael Haddleton, Luke Williamson, Tim O'Sullivan, AJ How, Angus Reid, Kurt Leuthart, Chris Beck, Brenton Thompson, Callum Stewart, Sam Lewis, Alex Fill, Conor O'Fee, Olly Bosworth, William Gray.
CARISBROOK-DUNEDIN
Last season: Seventh.
Gains: Liam Ryan, Liam Eathorne, Josh Cunis, Jeremy SmithLoss: Matt Lobb.
Squad: Sean Eathorne, Tony McEntyre, Brad Rodden, Rhys Phillips, Nick Eathorne, Tim McCormick, Harry Jones, Sean Moran, Kieran Eathorne, Chris Ware, Tom Rutherford, Jordan Horrell, Brayden Lindsay, Liam Ryan, Liam Eathorne, Jeremy Smith, Josh Cunis, Hayden Croft.
Note: Placings refer to the Bing Harris Shield.
OTAGO COUNTRY and OBHS
Otago Country and Otago Boys' High School are also appearing in the competition at various stages. Their squads. -
Otago Country: Brayden Hill, Cameron Rutherford, Eric Standfield, Jarred Andrew, Jonathan Homer, Kieran Parker, Kieran Eathorne, Kyle Hinton, Mark Phillips, Ross Anderson, Marcus Frost, Sam Blakely, Sean Moran, Sean Windle, Michael Goldstein, Jake Johnstone, Henry Burns, Fraser Wilson (captain), James Pyle.
Otago Boys' High School: Will Kindley, Trent Cairns, Rhys Bayly, Josh Finnie, Ryan Adam, Kadin Brocks, Taine Bayly, Blake Buttar-Scurr, Dylan Buttar-Scurr, Taylor Dunn, Luke Le Brun, Michael Williams.
