With no Super Rugby players available, coach Cory Brown has taken the opportunity to blood some new players and get a good look at them before the Mitre 10 Cup gets under way in two weeks.
The midfield combination is the most obvious example. He has taken a punt on University’s Josh Timu at second five-eighth while Dunedin’s Leroy van Dam will start at centre.
Timu, who is the son of former All Black and Otago winger John Timu, impressed Brown when he played "really well" for the Sassenachs last month, while van Dam has been one of the form players in the premier grade this season.
"They both deserve that chance, really," Brown said.
"And I think Josh has huge potential. He has played well for Varsity and he’s young and works really hard on and off the ball and that is probably the most impressive thing.
"He’s certainly a lot stronger than his size suggests."
Van Dam is a transplanted Aucklander who played five games for Manawatu in 2013. His debut was actually against Otago when he came into the side for the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder.
He moved to Dunedin last year with the aim of pushing for a spot in the Otago side as an outside back but was overlooked.He will get an opportunity today, though, and Brown is keen to see whether he can carry his form into the next level.
The other interesting selection is at openside, where promising Kaikorai flanker Slade McDowall joins University No8 Sione Teu and Southern’s Adam Knight in the loose forward trio.
"This is a great opportunity for him. He is still young but he gets stuck in and he is very physical and he is a good rugby player. I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes against Southland."
Harbour lock Joketani Koroi will get an opportunity off the bench with Kaikorai’s Blair Tweed and former junior Tall Black Tom Rowe starting the match in the second row.
Otago has some talent out wide with New Zealand sevens player Vilimoni Koroi slotting in at fullback and New Zealand under-20 player Jona Nareki named on the left wing.
The both have pace and can step their way through half gaps.
Another player to watch will be Southern first five-eighth Josh Ioane. There is some hype building around the classy pivot but he is still very inexperienced, Brown warned.
"He has been training with the Highlanders and playing really well with Southern. But Josh still has not played a first-class game of rugby yet ... so we just have to put that in perspective and give Josh some time in the saddle at the next level."
Brown expects Southland will look to adopt a more attacking brand of rugby than it has played in the past. He watched it play Mid-Canterbury and noted it tried to play the game with more speed.
"They love playing Otago and they love beating Otago, so I expect a really physical encounter. But I also expect them to move the ball to the edges, as well."
Otago v Southland
Gore, today, 2.30pm
Otago: Vilimoni Koroi, Mitchell Scott, Leroy van Dam, Josh Timu, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Jono Ruru, Sione Teu, Slade McDowell, Adam Knight, Blair Tweed, Tom Rowe, Donald Brighouse, Sekonaia Pole, Jonah Aoina. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Giorgio Bower, Angus Williams, Sam Dickson, Joketani Koroi, Pat Sio, Josh Renton, Gavin Stark, Josh Buchan, Ciaran Gaffney.