With two disappointing results for Otago Country in its first two matches of the Hawke Cup season, it will be looking to get back on track this weekend against Mid Canterbury at Molyneux Park in Alexandra.
An outright loss to Southland and then a first-innings defeat to North Otago a fortnight ago have put the side on the back foot.
There have been some positives, with runs coming through lower-order batsman Warren McSkimming and then a century to Dunstan opener Scott Paulin against North Otago, but more is needed from the top order.
Manager Mark Patterson was optimistic about his side's chances against Mid Canterbury, a side that is a bit of an unknown in 2012, as it has not yet played a Hawke Cup match.
"Yeah, they're a crafty old team of campaigners, though. They are definitely a team to be careful of," Patterson said.
Otago Country has made two changes to the side for this weekend from the one that played against North Otago, with North East Valley and Otago B batsman Lance Taylor replacing opener Jonathan Homer, and Sam Blakely coming in for the injured Ben Purvis.
Patterson said the change at the top of the order was with the future in mind. With only a mathematical chance left for Country to get a chance at challenging for the Cup, he believed it was "a good opportunity to blood some new players and finish the season strong".
The match starts today at 10.30am.
Hawke Cup
Alexandra, this weekend
Otago Country: Brendan Domigan (captain), Scott Paulin, Lance Taylor, James Pyle, Jarred Andrew, Cameron Rutherford, Fraser Wilson, Michael Collins, Kieran Parker, Sean Moran, Sam Blakely, Blair Brown.
Mid Canterbury: Rob Polson, Bo Houston, Jono Print, Des Kruger (captain), Dan Willemsen, Matt Winter, Rhys Phillips, Jason Morrison, Richard Print, Ben Mably, Kurt Polson, Matt Tait.
