The Otago selectors have given eight triallists the chance to impress and stake their claims for the top quintet in announcing the team to compete in the South Island interprovincial on the Otatara course on November 11-12.
They have gone away from selecting the highly-rated James Anstiss, who might be available for Otago in the interprovincial event in December.
Anstiss last played at No2 for Otago in 2013 before taking up a scholarship at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2014.
He emerged as the sixth-best New Zealander in the Asia-Pacific amateur event on the Royal Wellington course at thet weekend.
With scores of 70, 70, 72 and 73, Anstiss finished the event in a tie for 19th in what is likely to be his last appearance as an amateur.
He intends to turn professional but will have to play to obtain a card at stage one and stage two of the qualifying tournaments.
Stage one clashes with the interprovincial but if he can get an exemption and go straight to stage two, he would then be eligible to represent Otago in the tournament.
Should that eventuate, he must be a certainty for selection.
In Invercargill, Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook) will retain the No1 spot while Brandon Hodgson (Otago) is secure in second spot.
A good record in last year's interprovincial and winning the North Otago 72-hole event puts Michael Smith (Otago) at No3.
Michael Ormandy (Otago) has made a concerted effort to perform this year and will play at No4 after making the semifinals of the Otago championships at Labour Weekend.
On his way back from the professional ranks, Duncan Croudis (Otago) will play at No5 while Chris Snow (St Clair) is at No6.
Snow is a rugged matchplay golfer and provides the glue for Otago to gel as a team and will be a fitting captain of the octet.
Inia Logan (Wakatipu Junior) had a golden run in the tough Queensland amateur before qualifying eighth and bowing out of the recent Otago championships in the second round.
Ben Patston (Otago), having won the national left-handed tournament at Chisholm Links in March, has an outside chance of making the team for the nationals playing at No8.
Otago finished fourth at North Shore in 2013 and has been the losing finalist in the interprovincial event for the past three years.
With the depth of talent, the team is keen to go one step further this year but the eight must first take the South Island win which Canterbury has dominated too often.
