The Highlanders have more than half a dozen top-liners not playing, including its two All Blacks while the Crusaders are also missing their national players.
The two sides will field alternative teams in each half which always brings a lack of fluidity to the game for a period.
But the season has to start somewhere and Temuka is as good as any ground around the country.
The Highlanders have been training for just over a month and it was now time to get out on the park and start playing.
Coach Tony Brown said the side had trained well, had been spending most of the time learning the game plan and the players were itching to get on the field and play a game.
It was a shorter pre-season than usual with a late finish to the 2020 season leading to no training before Christmas.
Brown said he preferred the new arrangement as players were not interrupted by Christmas and could get right into the season.
The Highlanders will be looking at combinations and there are areas of obvious interest.
The side has selected seven props so there will be some intense competition among the front-rowers to get the start. Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck and Jeff Thwaites do no even get a run today but all is not lost for the trio.
No8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas will start both halves and needs to make a statement. The loose forward depth at the Highlanders is impressive with Liam Squire, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and Kazuki Himeno all waiting in the wings. Ben-Nicholas has some spark about him but is still raw.
Billy Harmon gets his opportunity to start on the openside flank and stake an early claim. Dillon Hunt was excellent last year for the Highlanders, especially on the defensive side of the game, and has left some big boots to fill. James Lentjes may get some time.
Midfield is the usual case of many options with Otago captain Michael Collins seen as a midfielder rather than further back while Thomas Umaga-Jensen will be hoping for a season free of injury and to deliver on his obvious potential.
At the back Connor Garden-Bachop will finally get on the field after a disrupted couple of seasons. It will be interesting to see how he performs.
Otago winger Freedom Vahaakolo will get his chance to show his wares at the next level.
Brown said he wanted to see how some combinations went and what players would take their chance.
The weather was expected to be cloudy and not too hot.
The match is set down for two 40-minute spells.
Highlanders v Crusaders
Temuka, today, 5.30pm
Highlanders: First half: Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatungane Punivai, Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt (captain), Folau Fakatava, Teariki Ben Nicholas, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Jack Regan, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman (captain), Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Second half: Connor Garden-Bachop, Freedom Vahaakolo, Michael Collins (captain), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Caleb Makene, Kayne Hammington/James Arscott, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Sean Withy, Sione Misiloi, Bryn Evans, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Ricky Jackson, Ethan De Groot.
Crusaders: First half: Josh McKay, Chay Fihaki, Rene Ranger, Isaiah Punivai, Leicester Fanga’anuku, Fergus Burke, Mitch Drummond, Whetu Douglas (captain), Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Quinten Strange, Will Tucker, Michael Alaalatoa, Brodie McAlister, Isileli Tu’ungafasi. Second half: Chay Fihaki, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Leicester Fanga’anuku, Tim O’Malley, Tomas Aoake, Brett Cameron, Ereatara Enari, Brendon O’Connor, Sione Havili, Anton Segner, Zach Gallager, Luke Romano (captain), Oliver Jager, Nathan Vella, Tamati Williams.
Referee: Mike Fraser (Wellington)
