The women's side was looking good last year before it had a disappointing semifinal against Tasman and dropped out of the reckoning to qualify for the national tournament.
This year, coach Mike Moeahu and his team have been training hard, and are coming off some impressive form last week, winning a tournament in Christchurch which involved Canterbury, Brazil and an invitation side.
The team suffered a blow on Thursday night when Biddy Sefton was injured at training and she will not make the trip to Timaru today.
But the side has plenty of talent in its team, with a host of Spirit players lining up. New Zealand Rugby Union-contracted sevens player Kelly Brazier is not available, as she has just had an operation on a hip and is out for up to six months.
The top three teams will go through to the national tournament but Moeahu said Otago was focused on making it to the final.
The women's format is a straight round robin and then a final. Tasman, Canterbury, Southland and South Canterbury are the other teams.
The women's side has some experience but the Otago men's team has a host of new faces, with not one player coming back from last year's tournament.
Coach Roy Hawker was philosophical about the changes in his team, saying sevens was a launching pad for players. Many had simply moved on to other teams, such as the Highlanders or other Super 15 sides.
Kieran Moffat is the only player in the team who has played for Otago in the ITM Cup and will be a key asset. Peter Breen has made himself unavailable for sevens while the likes of Matt Faddes and Gavin Stark may come into the reckoning later in the season.
Hawker said Otago had been training hard and there was plenty of speed in the side.
The team was green but had some speed on the outsides, where Liam Edwards was looking to make an impact. One interesting newcomer is Sam Weber, the younger brother of former Otago sevens star Brad Weber.
Otago has to finish in the top five to qualify for the national tournament. Other teams at the tournament are South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Southland, Tasman and Canterbury.
The national tournament is in Rotorua on January 11-12.
Otago used to be an automatic qualifier, as it was the host when the tournament was in Queenstown.
Regional sevens: Otago squads
Women: Sonia Panapa (captain), Greer Muir, Lucy Anderson, Rachel Scott, Rebecca Todd, Arna McLeod, Sheree Hume, Halie Hurring, Pip Symes, Megan Manson, Joslyne Umpherville, Olivia Waldron.
Men: Kieran Moffat (captain), Michael McKee, Tom Rowe, Tala Fagasoaia, Shannon Young, Ben Miller, Adam Gavegan, Rowan McKenzie, Solomon T-Pole, Sam Weber, Liam Edwards, Danny King.
