Four to six teams will play in July-August in the first organised league in Dunedin in two years.
Steve Martin, the former Otago rugby coach who is now the general manager of league's southern zone, is confident about the prospects of a revived competition.
"We will have a modified competition running this year. It's going to happen," Martin said yesterday.
"We've had strong expressions of interest from four to six clubs or organisations who believe they will be able to field a team.
"I'm also confident we'll have funding in place, and we've already got people who want to referee. So the ball is rolling."
The format of the competition would depend on how many teams confirmed their entry, Martin said.
There was "every possibility" club rugby players could be involved, though many would be sticking with rugby to play for representative teams.
"The over-riding principle for me is the need to give people an opportunity to have a crack at league.
Their choice in future years is up to them.
Obviously, we hope to pick up some people who haven't been playing any sport."
There will be an open meeting at Sport Otago on Monday week to form an establishment committee for the competition.
"They'll be tasked with running this initial competition, but also with working with me on a strategic plan to have a competition next year in the traditional season," Martin said.
"We will then look to run some grassroots programmes through providing resources in schools."
Martin is responsible for league in the South Island and has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
Canterbury has a strong club competition, Tasman has started one with four teams and also has a schools programme, and Southland has a competition with five teams, including the Wakatipu Giants.
The West Coast, where league has a great history, has 500 junior players, which Martin said was "unbelievable".
He has been asked to assess the possibility of a second-tier southern provincial competition to run at the same time as the new zonal tournament, which features a South Island team, in August-September.
Martin believes league has huge potential and he has been encouraged by the number of people who have been in contact with him during his first weeks in his new job.
"There's quite a groundswell of league support there.
"People have been looking for some energy and some structure.
"But I'm also seeing interest from people who are keen to get into the sport for the first time."
• Anyone interested in playing rugby league can contact Steve Martin (021 271 6975).
