The Old Golds will be without dominant prop Meli Kolinisau and hooker Hayden Tisdall when they come up against East Coast in Ruatoria, with the Bill Osborne Taonga on the line.
Valley front rowers Josefa Veiogo and Jake Greenslade get their first start of the season, joining Kelepi Funaki, who has been shifted to tighthead to accommodate the changes. Development squad players Hika Tiakato and Sione Tukala are poised to make their debut off the bench as cover.
Former All Black sevens player Vilimoni Koroi is the other noticeable absence after starting in the opening two rounds.
Old Boys’ back Inoke Fisilau will take over at first five. He put in a solid performance off the bench last week.
Mone Samate returns to the left wing after missing last week’s 50-3 win against Wairarapa-Bush and Osea Qamasea retains his spot on the other wing after two impressive tries on debut. Ben Paton is the only other change on the bench.
"We've been forced to make a few changes with a couple of the guys out through illness and injury," head coach Jason Forrest said.
"It's a good chance for us to test our depth."
The Old Golds have had a dream start to the season, beating Mid Canterbury and Wairarapa comfortably to take top spot on the Heartland table.
East Coast has had an mixed start to their season. They had a gutting 35-34 loss against Wairarapa in the opening round, but bounced back to beat Mid Canterbury 19-8 at home last week.
Heartland Championship
Ruatoria, 2pm today
North Otago: Lucas Ollion, Osea Qamasea, Jesse Bowering, Aleki Morris-Lome, Mone Samate, Inoke Fisilau, Tini Feke, Junior Fakatoufifita, Mat Duff, Taylor Dale, Rory Bartle, Josh Clark, Kelepi Funaki, Jake Greenslade, Josefa Veiogo. Reserves: Lenny Varu, Hika Tiakato, Sione Tukala, Ratu Logavatu, Samu Babiau, Tyron Davies, Matia Qiolevu, Ben Paton.
East Coast: Josh Dearden, BJ Sidney, Apirana Pewhairangi, Tevita Nabura, Kris Palmer, Terangi Fraster, Sam Parkes, Mitchell Crosswell, Will Bolingford, Hoani Te Moana, Richard Green, Rico Te Kani, Perrin Manuel, Joseph Royal, Hakarangi Tichborne. Reserves: Jorian Tangaere, Manahi Brooking, Jayden Leiua-Pokia, Gabe Te Kani, Jack Richardson, Te Aho Morice, Verdon Bartlett, Taane Paki
