The draw for the crossover matches in next year’s Mitre 10 Cup was done this week — all in a very low key manner — and Otago has come up with games against the finalists and the team that beat it to win the championship division.
Under a change, the premiership team had the first pick to play an opponent from the championship, in a game to be hosted by the championship team.
It got down to the last two and Tasman — the beaten finalist this year — picked Otago, with Canterbury left to pick Wellington.
Otago then had second-last pick of championship selections in the second round and decided to pick Auckland for a home game.
In the next round, teams from the premiership got the chance to pick home games against championship sides and, after discussions with the team north of the border, Canterbury had first pick and decided on Otago.
Canterbury holds the Ranfurly Shield and Otago will be set for a challenge next year, its first since two challenges in 2014.
The final game was a selection by the championship team and Otago, picking second, decided to play North Harbour, the team it lost to last week in the Mitre 10 Cup championship final.This game will be played at North Harbour.
Otago is expected to have home games against Tasman, Auckland, Manawatu, Southland and Bay of Plenty. It will not host a midweek game and will not play against Counties-Manukau, Taranaki and Waikato.