But the end result was a 47-21 towelling by Tasman at home at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin yesterday.
The visiting side tested a cliche early — proving the game really does start up front.
It produced a massive first scrum. Veteran prop Wyatt Crockett had much to with the home side back-pedalling furiously.
The lineout drives and weight of possession threatened to crush Otago. Tasman played like a team at the top of the Premiership and Otago, well, it was probably guilty of looking ahead to the Ranfurly Shield challenge in Hamilton on Saturday and the playoffs.
It was also its third game in nine days, so you could forgive a little experimenting.
Some of those experiments showed potential. Vilimoni Koroi shifted from fullback to first five-eighth at halftime and added a spark.
Taylor Haugh came on at fullback and brought raw pace and tremendous energy. Sio Tomkinson proved he is a very handy back-up goal-kicker. The midfielder landed three from three and also got across for a try.
Matt Faddes seems to have got his confidence back. He spun out of two tackles and crashed over in the third to briefly give Otago hope at the start of the second spell.
But the honours belonged to Tasman. It led 28-0 at the break and always had a response when Otago rallied with some enterprising back play in the second half.
Fullback Will Jordan had a game to remember. He got across for three tries.
Mitch Hunt threatened to go through the game without missing a kick at goal. He clunked one of the seven conversion attempts he made in an otherwise impressive display. Hunt opened the scoring with a try, though. Tasman had been hammering away and he skipped through a hole 5m out to dot down.
His side was dominating possession and territory and then got a numerical advantage when Sione Misiloi pulled down a maul and was yellow-carded.
Hooker Andrew Makalio dove over moments later and Jordan scored the first of his three when he finished off a lovely team try which started 60m back up field.
Robust centre Levi Aumua barged through several tackle to set up David Havili for Tasman’s fourth try.
Coach Ben Herring made four changes during the break. James Lentjes, Joketani Koroi and Jonah Aoina came on in the pack, while there was a shuffle at pivot as well.
The thin thread of hope which dangled promisingly when Faddes scored was snuffed out by Jordan’s second try.
But Otago continued to attack and scored down the left wing through McDowall, who had a good game in support and snaffled the odd turnover.
Jordan’s final try came through Otago’s ambition. It tried to run the ball out from its 22 but a pass missed its target and Jordan pounced.
The loss is only a minor setback for Otago. It has already qualified for the Championship playoffs.In the other Mitre 10 Cup games, Waikato thrashed Northland 71-28, North Harbour edged Counties-Manukau 36-26, Canterbury dispatched Taranaki 41-7 and Bay of Plenty pipped Southland 26-22.
Mitre 10 Cup
The scores
Tasman 47
Will Jordan 3, Mitch Hunt, Andrew Makalio, David Havili, Tima Faingaanuku tries; Hunt 6 con
Otago 21
Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Slade McDowall tries; Tomkinson 3 conHalftime: 28-0.