The home side was outclassed by a slick Canterbury team in two warm-up matches at the Edgar Centre yesterday.
Canterbury cruised to a 55-46 win in the first game and made no contest of the second, winning 58-40.
Fringe Silver Fern Charlotte Kight was an imposing presence on defence and former Silver Fern Maree Bowden was electric in the midcourt.
And with the likes of former Otago Rebels Anna Thompson and Phillipa Finch and the experienced Victoria Smith in the line-up, Canterbury simply had too much class for Otago.
The same set of players struggled for the Tactix in the ANZ Championship, but while Canterbury was at the bottom of the heap in that tournament, it looks set to dominate the national championships.
"Canterbury looked very sharp and look like they will be the team to beat," Otago coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz said, adding there was a "massive" step up in level from the national championships to the ANZ Championship.
Canterbury was much more physical and dominated every area on court.
However, Tasi-Cordtz said there were plenty of positives for Otago.
"The girls have to muscle up and they did in patches.
"They just need to do it the whole time and expect the knocks, but be able to take the ball and carry on.
"It is a lot more physical than what they are used to.
"There are some good signs. But we've got lots and lots of work to do in the next month. The girls are well aware of that."
Otago was able to generate some pressure on Canterbury through the defensive pairing of New Zealand Under-21 representative Jess Moulds and experienced defender Hannah Broederlow.
Louise Thayer also made an impact when she came on.
She was outstanding in the aerial exchanges, getting good elevation and plucking some pretty good passes out of the air.
But any ball snaffled on defence was often lost in the midcourt.
Where Canterbury was snappy and crisp, Otago was lumbering and sloppy.
And Bowden and Finch were able to set the tempo of the game, while Kight and Smith made life tough for Otago shooters Greir Campbell and Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
Otago opens its campaign against Wellington in Porirua on September 4.
