Carvell is busy behind the scenes doing the early-season work with the players who will form the base of the Otago squad that plays in the Air New Zealand Cup from July to October.
The former successful Otago B coach joined Steve Martin in the Otago coaching team halfway through last season, when incumbent assistant Glenn Moore was appointed Highlanders coach and had to relinquish his job.
With Martin busy in his role as Highlanders assistant, Carvell has the job of working with a group of players in Dunedin, only some of whom have a season or two of experience at provincial level.
The exodus of players from Otago last year and the costcutting measures taken by the union would appear to have made it tricky for Carvell and Martin to assemble a competitive squad.
‘‘On the surface, you would say that was true. In some respects it is going to be more difficult,'' Carvell said yesterday.
‘‘But it creates a huge opportunity for us to bring in guys who are showing good club form, and promising young guys who are full of enthusiasm.
That will hopefully counter-balance the lack of contracted players and the lack of money.
‘‘We're trying to establish a real die-for-the cause attitude. On the one hand, we're disadvantaged by the lack of funding and the difficulty in retaining and recruiting players.But it's like we're starting with a fresh slate and that's exciting.''
A squad of about 24 has been assembled for regular sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights covering conditioning, rugby theory and skills.
Carvell said he and Martin wanted players in the preliminary squad who they genuinely believed had the potential to play for Otago this year.
The coaches will still be watching form in club rugby closely and will happily select new players if they impress.
Carvell has enlisted guest speakers, including Tony Gilbert and Wayne Graham, to talk to the squad about the history of Otago rugby, and the reasons they believe the blue jersey with the golden O still holds plenty of mana.
Otago started the last Air New Zealand Cup with a horrific record 7-68 loss to Wellington, and finished it with a 6-44 thrashing by Canterbury in the quarterfinals.
But in between, Carvell believed a young squad beset by injuries took some valuable steps forward.
An Otago trial will be held on June 24, somewhere in South Otago, following the success of last year's game in Omakau.
An extended squad will be named on June 25 followed by games against Southland, in Dunedin on July 12, the day of the test at Carisbrook, and against Wellington in the capital on July 18.
Otago had a pre-season game against Canterbury lined up for July 26 but that has fallen through.
A camp will now be held from July 21-23, allowing Otago players to be released to play in the Dunedin club final.
