The club's return to the senior grade following a four-year absence has been a major talking point.
But there are six other clubs vying for the Bing Harris Shield.
No surprises here but Green Island shapes as a strong contender. The defending champion has had a mortgage on the senior banner for the past two summers.
It will have to make do without coach Alun Kennedy this season. He is taking a break after ``six or seven'' years in the role.
Veteran wicketkeeper Scott Simpson has retired but there is still plenty of experience.
Medium pacer Dion Lobb took his 800th wicket for the team in February and is back for another summer. So are experienced all-rounders Mark Joyce and Geordie Scott.
Northland wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Kneebone has shifted south to press for higher honours, and Australian batsman Tom Beaton will be hoping to make an impact.
He played two twenty20 matches for Otago two years ago as an import and has signed a declaration of intent to qualify as a local player.
North East Valley will be looking to build on its second placing and has secured the services of South African Travis Muller.
The 25-year-old played a Plunket Shield game for Wellington last season but has set his mind on cracking the Otago team this summer.
The right-arm medium pacer has taken 120 wickets at a average of 24.32 in 43 first-class games.
With the bat, look out for the likes of Hunter Kindley and Llew Johnson. Opportunities further up await if they can show some form at club level.
Carisbrook-Dunedin has a fresh look following the departures of the likes of Rhys Phillips, Ryan Duffy and Kieran Eathorne.
Cam Hawkins will lead the side. He was the leading club batsman last season with 776 runs at an average of 55.40.
He will get support from the likes of Volts back-up keeper Max Chu and seamer Kurt Johnston, while all-rounder Richard Sillars will be looking to build on a stellar campaign which resulted in him being named club player of the year last season.
Taieri will want to continue clawing its way up the ladder. Wellington's Fraser Colson has signed with the club. The right-hander is eyeing up a spot in the Volts top order and will have to score runs at club level first.
Spinner Ben Lockrose made his debut for Otago last summer and will surely take a bunch of wickets this season.
Albion has lost Jack Harper, Dexter Marsh and Felix Page but gained the likes of Craig Baldry and Tommy Clout. Hamish Rutherford has made the move from Green Island but is unlikely to play much cricket for the club.
Clout is a promising left-arm seamer who played for Northern Districts A last season. He shapes as a good addition.
Kaikorai's goal is to develop its young core into a consistent group. It has signed Volts gloveman Mitch Renwick but will get more mileage out of the likes of seamer Ryan Whelan and batsman Rhys Bayly.
Whelan was the team's leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps, while Bayly scored more than 500 runs.
In the opening round tomorrow, University-Grange plays Carisbrook-Dunedin at Tonga Park, Kaikorai meets North East Valley at Bayfield and Albion hosts Green Island at Culling Park. Taieri has the bye.
