Fans will be keen to see if United's new-look attacking style can breach a defence that has yet to concede a goal this season.
Manawatu beat Canterbury United 1-0 in Christchurch, then really impressed by crushing Wellington 3-0 last week.
However, Manawatu could not win in Dunedin last season, and although coach Bob Sova thinks the time has come, Otago coach Terry Phelan is equally keen to preserve his home record.
Manawatu would prefer to remember the 6-0 drubbing it dished out to Otago in Palmerston North almost exactly a year ago.
Manawatu lost its new Korean striker, Park Sung-Bae, through injury last week. The professional with the Suwon Blue Wings played 243 K League games and scored 53 goals.
At one stage, Park was considering signing for Otago.
But coach Sova still has his share of quality itinerants in former All White Raf de Gregorio, winger Jason Hayne - his fourth club in five seasons - and leading a bunch of three Uruguayan imports is talented striker Gonzalo Nieres.
Manawatu central defender Adam Cowan captains the side and known to his team-mates as "The Animal", which suggests no prisoners will be taken.
Yet Otago showed last week that it does not shirk physical confrontation, and will likely hold its own in any combat.
Phelan has given a vote of confidence to last week's squad, despite the availability of centre back John Chisholm and the two German Oberliga players, Robert and Martin Genschur, whose international clearances arrived midweek.
Dave Dugdale, with two goals, has already almost overtaken last year's top-scorer, John Lang, who managed three goals during the whole season.
Dugdale was again selected in the NZFC team of the week, and was joined by Otago's former St Johnston professional Barry Gardener, a tribute to that player's form in midfield.
Irish centre back Colin Falvey is Otago captain, and around him Tim Horner, Rhys Henderson, Tristan Prattley and Mike Smith are defensive options in front of keeper Liam Little.
Since Blair Scoullar is still injured, Andy Coburn's experience will be vital in leading a midfield of Gardiner and Robbie Deeley to support Otago front-runners Dugdale, Burgess, Tom Jackson, Sean Brand and Tom Connor.
The battle between both midfields will be a major factor in determining the game's outcome.
"We want to be positive and attack, but we must not give the ball away cheaply - if we kick possession away we could be in trouble," Phelan said.
"At training the team is looking good, and with a vocal Otago crowd urging us on we are capable of getting a result that will keep our momentum going."
Otago United v Manawatu
Sunnyvale, tomorrow, 4pm
• Otago United: Liam Little, Rhys Henderson, Tristan Prattley, Barry Gardiner, Colin Falvey (captain), Michael Smith, Robbie Deeley, Tom Jackson, David Dugdale, Andy Coburn, Aaron Burgess, Callum Flaws, Sean Brand, Morgan Day, Tim Horner, Tom Connor.
• Manawatu: Chris Marsh, Adam Cowan, Pablo Yackson, Jan Weissenfeldt, Matt Kennedy, Jason Hayne, Nathan Cooksley, Gusatvo Saralegui, Leo Shin, Scott Robson, Raf de Gregorio, Finlay Milne, Andrew Bailey, Gonzalo Nieres, Cory Chettleburgh.
