Poverty Bay had been due to take its place in pool A alongside Otago, Nelson and Auckland when the championship gets under way at the McMillan Centre on Monday, but it pulled out two weeks ago after the association realised it had mistakenly booked flights and accommodation for Auckland rather than Dunedin.
"There are only 15 teams now because one of them had a disaster," Otago Hockey chief executive Chris Aubin said.
"Poverty Bay booked to go to Auckland rather than Dunedin. I think they got confused with the under-18 B tournament, which is in Auckland. They did not look properly."
Aubin said New Zealand Hockey was unable to find a replacement team at such short notice.
Otago was scheduled to play Poverty Bay on Wednesday but will have a break instead, which co-coach Simon Cullen described as a mixed blessing.
"It means we have one less game and a rest day in the middle of the tournament, which is probably not too bad, actually," Cullen said.
"I don't think it has made it harder for us. It just means we really have to beat Nelson."
Auckland is the defending champion and will pose a stern challenge for Otago, but Cullen is optimistic about his side's prospects.
"I'm pretty hopeful we will go quite well. We've had some pretty good results in warm-up games. We beat Canterbury in Christchurch at Queen's Birthday weekend and we also beat Nelson as well, and they're in our pool."
Cullen believes a spot in the top four is not out of the question.
"That's definitely our target but I don't want to talk them [players] up too much. But I definitely think, if they play well, they can make the top four."
Otago won the tournament when it was last staged in Dunedin, in 2005. North Harbour won three consecutive titles from 2006-08 and is expected to be strong again.
Otago boasts a powerful midfield, with New Zealand age group representatives Kane Russell and Nick Elder making the play and setting the tempo. Up front, Jared Hewitt and Jeremy Morris will shoulder the scoring responsibilities, while captain Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle and Gregor Croudis form a tough defensive duo.
UNDER-18 HOCKEY - NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Venue: McMillan Centre, Dunedin
When: Monday to Friday
Teams: Auckland, Nelson, Otago (Pool A), Waikato, Wellington, Wairarapa, Taranaki (Pool B), Hawkes Bay, Tauranga, Manawatu, Counties-Manukau (Pool C), North Harbour, Canterbury, Mid-South Canterbury, Bay of Plenty (Pool D).
Otago's draw:-
- July 5, 11.25am, v Auckland
- July 6, 11.25am
- July 8-9, playoffs
- July 10, finals
