It opens its season against Canterbury in Christchurch tomorrow and is setting out to deliver a complete 80-minute performance.
That was the key takeaway from its preseason weekend, in which it had both scenario and live games against Canterbury and Tasman two Saturdays ago.
"I just think our core skills at the moment are good, but we just need to be better and be consistently better at them so that the execution come game time is better, so that’s what we’ve been sort of working on," coach Kane Jury said.
He said the team had taken confidence out of the weekend, both in showing what it could do, as well as having a chance to work on what needed improvement.
"It probably showed us that we’ve got the ability to attack and score tries.
"However, our defence is an area where we’ve got to be a bit smarter.
"[We have been] working really hard to get our spacings and our line speed right too, so we can put pressure on, on defence."
He felt the team was improving in the areas it needed to.
Those included the tight five, the speed off the ground in the lineout and the backs’ understanding of what they were doing on both attack and defence.
With the first game in sight, the group was ready to test itself.
"I think there’s a cool little buzz amongst the group.
"Like everything, when you’ve been training for a while, you want to get your first competition game and to sort of know where you are amongst other top-class teams as well.
"I think everyone’s raring to go and we’re all excited to get up to Christchurch and play this game."
The new format of the competition has Otago in the second-tier championship and playing two crossover games against premiership teams.
This weekend is one of those crossovers and while that presents a challenge, the Spirit knows what it is walking into.
"[Canterbury is a] very skilful team that’s got some good ball carriers and skilful enough that it’s able to play width with accuracy when the space is on.
"So for us it’s really important that we get our defensive roles and responsibilities right and also take some chances on attack.
"I think we created a few opportunities last time we played against them and now it’s just making sure that when we are creating those opportunities we’re finishing them off."
The side would be without lock Julia Gorinski, who had picked up a knee injury at its preseason weekend.
It looks to have a strong loose forward trio made up of Angie Sisifa, Georgia Mason and Morgan Henderson.
In the midfield it boasts plenty of experience in Greer Muir, alongside the dynamic Sam Hollows.
Otago Spirit v Canterbury
Christchurch, tomorrow, 12.30pm
Otago: Sheree Hume, Catarina Antunes, Sam Hollows, Greer Muir, Kilistina Moataane, Liv Waldron, Zoe Whatarau, Angie Sisifa, Georgia Mason, Morgan Henderson, Kate Smith, Jess Kendall, Syreeta Norris, Morgan Walker, Eliis Doyle. Reserves: Annemieke van Vliet, Tegan Hollows, Michaela Day, Sarah Crabbe, Lauren Tye, Cheyenne Cunningham, Kiana Wereta.
Canterbury: Olivia McGoverne, Sam Curtis, Cassie Siataga, Lucy Anderson, Becky Davidson, Charntay Poko, Kate Ebrahim, Nicole Purdom, Sui Pauaraisa, Lucy Jenkins, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner, Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox, Rebecca Todd. Reserves: Nina Poletti, Usipua Simaile, Kaylee Tavendale, Charna Thompson, Elizabeth Pera, Corrina Whiley, Taylor Curtis.