After finishing second in the past three tournaments, the Otago players are keen to shake off the bridesmaid tag and bring home the silverware for the first time since 1982.
But it is their South Island opposition in division two which is likely to cause some headaches and could prevent Otago making the playoffs on Saturday.
With the return of Liam Balneaves from Europe, the Southland team is back to full strength like the quintet which won the title in Gisborne in 2011.
Southland No1 Scott Hellier beat Balneaves in the final to win the Otago championship as they left the Otago players in their wake.
Hellier has been in top form this season, scoring a stunning 60 in the New Zealand amateur championship on the Russley course recently.
Matt Tautari, Jeremy Hall and Tyler McLean make up the Southland quintet and Otago will have to play well to win this contest.
Canterbury is always strong and nearly pipped Otago for a semifinal berth in New Plymouth last year.
No1 Tom Parker (18) was a finalist in the New Zealand championship and was in the winning under-19 team at Cambridge as well as leading his Christchurch Boys' High team to intercollegiate success.
No2 Matt McLean has a good record against Otago while talented youngster Hiroki Miya at No3 will be a tough opponent.
Otago has already lost Inia Logan from No4 after he withdrew due to illness during the last two weeks.
Otago, which has a bye in the first round this morning, will play Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay in the second round this afternoon.
Tomorrow, Otago plays Taranaki before the crucial clash with Southland followed by an easier match against Poverty Bay on Thursday.
The team faces a tough final day against Canterbury and North Harbour and the team will need to amass a good game tally in case a countback is required to make the semi-finals.
- by Bill Trewern
Otago team
In playing order: Fraser MacLachlan, Brandon Hodgson, Duncan Croudis, Michael Smith, Chris Snow.
Reserve: Michael Ormandy.
