Otago has a guaranteed Ranfurly Shield challenge this year, after it was drawn to play holder Wellington in the first round of the national championship.
The draw for the Air New Zealand Cup was released yesterday, with Otago playing Wellington in the capital city on July 31.
With the All Blacks playing South Africa in Durban that same weekend, both sides could be below full strength.
This would appear to hurt Wellington more than Otago, as potentially up to seven Wellington first-choice players could be involved in the Durban clash, although All Black selection is a long way away.
Otago last held the Log of Wood in 1957 and there has been plenty of agony since in trying to grab the trophy.
It last challenged for the shield in 2006, when it was beaten 22-17 by Canterbury.
The competition starts on the last weekend of July and the final is not played until November 7, lengthening the domestic rugby season in New Zealand to 38 weeks, after the Super 14 started last week.
Originally the Air New Zealand Cup was going to be trimmed to 12 teams and start later but, with the decision to retain Tasman and Northland, the competition will be played over 15 weeks.
The role of the All Blacks will be very limited with the final test of the year not until September 19. There are no quarterfinals, with semifinals to follow the complete round robin.
Otago has seven home games, including a Thursday night game against North Harbour. It also plays Auckland at Carisbrook on August 6, a Sunday.
•The Crusaders will have to do without captain Richie McCaw for their Super 14 match against the Brumbies in Canberra tomorrow, NZPA reports.
Injuries have resulted in flanker McCaw (head), as well as lock Brad Thorn (heel) and fullback Leon MacDonald (shoulder) being omitted from the team for the game.
Team management said McCaw had not recovered sufficiently to play, despite having improved significantly. Flanker Kieran Read will captain the side.
