University-Grange will carry the baton for Otago at the national club championships which start in Auckland today.
The Dunedin-based club is making its first appearance at the tournament and hopes to extend the province's excellent record.
Green Island, which claimed a third consecutive senior banner this summer, has won the tournament four times and shared the title once.
But in the regional knockout final, Grange outplayed Green Island, winning by 76 runs to claim a spot in the finals.
Grange opens its campaign against East Christchurch Shirley today and, with a talented side featuring Black Caps Ian Butler and Aaron Redmond and Otago players Sam Wells, James McMillan and Anthony Bullick, there is every reason to be confident.
The team also includes former Otago top-order batsman Andrew Hore, left-arm seamer Craig Smith and promising batsman Michael Bracewell.
Hore made a return to club cricket this year and is a veteran of 23 seasons.
He scored more than 400 runs in six innings and remains a threat.
Wells, who will captain the side, had a breakthrough season for Otago, scoring two first-class centuries and taking two five-wicket bags.
Butler is registered with Dunedin club side Pelichet Bay but has received dispensation from New Zealand Cricket to play for University-Grange so he can get some game time before the Twenty/20 World Cup beginning in the West Indies later this month.
National Club Champs: University-Grange's draw
April 6 v East Christchurch Shirley (Canterbury)
April 7 v Karori (Wellington)
April 8 v Freyberg (Central Districts)
April 9 v Mt Maunganui (Northern Districts)
April 10 v Parnell (Auckland)
April 11 Final
