It is match two of the Otago pre-season and once again it is not just the scoreboard which will matter for Otago this afternoon.
The home side, playing under the Sassenachs banner, will take on the Cantabrians, a shadow Canterbury side, at Forsyth Barr Stadium this afternoon.
The match is the first real hit-out for Otago after a game a couple of weeks ago when a very much second string Otago side — again playing under the Sassenachs banner, was too good for the Spartans, a side from Southland.
The Otago side has been in camp for two weeks but not all of the players have been there with many still involved with the Highlanders.
The side should get more of its Super rugby players back next week as they return from leave and the Mitre 10 Cup competition comes into full view.
Today’s team has plenty of enterprise in the backs and a decent forward pack.
It will be interesting to view what sort of impact No 8 Paul Grant has for the side, coming back into the team after two years away.
Coach Cory Brown said the side was looking to hone its defence which it had been working hard on for the past two weeks with defence coach Ben Herring.
On the attack side, Brown wanted his side to ask questions of the Canterbury defence and make sure it showed good ball security.
The Canterbury side is one full of promising youngsters but no Canterbury side is ever easy, so Otago will know it will still have to do the basics to get one over Canterbury.
The match will be followed by the final of the Otago premier schools competition which features John McGlashan College taking on Waitaki Boys’ High School.
● North Otago has opened its short tour of Canada with a 54-14 win over a Canadian under-20 selection in Victoria Island, after leading 24-14 at halftime.
North Otago was outstanding on defence, completely dominated the scrums and halfback Robbie Smith had a top game.
