Former All Black hooker Andrew Hore is part of the coaching team of the Counties team, while Simon Maling will help coach the Lakes side.
The game has been designed to lift standards for Central Otago players before the Topp Cup fixture.
The eight Central premier teams have been divided along geographical lines into two.
The two sides from Cromwell will join Alexandra, Maniototo and Matakanui to form Counties, while Upper Clutha, Wakatipu and Arrowtown will play under the Lakes banner.
No club rugby will be played in Central Otago this weekend.
Central council of clubs chairman Jason Clark is hopeful the inaugural game will capture people’s imaginations and develop into an annual contest.
"I’m hoping it [the format] takes off. It works well in South Otago. They do North v South and they get a good crowd," he said.
"And it is just to put a bit more emphasis on selecting for the Topp Cup which is in a couple of weeks.
"It is to give those rep players more of a go and try and make it a bit more of a showcase.
"We’ve got a shorter season this year, so we’re looking for more rugby for the rep fullas."
The Topp Cup is a major focus for country rugby. The annual clash between South Otago and Central Otago generates some good old-fashioned parochialism.
Clark is hoping for a crowd of 500 to 1000 for the Lakes-Counties clash.
"It should be good rugby and two different styles probably."
He expects Lakes will play an expansive brand of rugby, while Counties will look to dominate the close exchanges and build from a solid set piece.
Omakau won the lottery to host the game this season but the plan is to move it around.
Lakes v Counties, Omakau, tomorrow, 2.30pm
Lakes: Mat Saunders, Mike Ewi, Rube Peina, Jessie Forsyth, Henry Schikker, Brodie Flannery, Brady Kingan, Sam Calder (captain), Dave Fraser, Ben Carter, Lachie Garrick, Matt Ward, Adam Fleming, Jake McEwan, Tom McKenzie. Reserves: Scott Cunningham, Nick Riceman, Kees Brady, Ben Young, Eamon O’Brien, Ollie Stirling, Sean Murray, Ollie Jarvie.
Counties: Doug Smith, Jessie Porter, Mark Cormack, Tyler Ford, Brooke Wilson, Reon Norton, Ben Maxwell (captain), Ollie McLelland, Daniel Hurring, Dean Sinnamon, Travis Mitchell, Stefan Blakeborough, Alex Chubb, Brad Allan, Mike Philip. Reserves: Jake Morton, Mike O’Hagan, Tom Paton, Sam Jopp, Jamie Sutton, James Dobson, Taura Wilson, Michael Murtagh-Loader, Nathan Cradock.
Referee: Hamish Walker.
