They do not call it the first and the second division any more. It is the Premiership and Championship.
But that is all marketing. The fans know. And they also know Otago has been languishing since the top 14 sides were split into two groups following the 2010 season, when Otago finished 14th.
The province has been stuck in the lower reaches since. You can call it the Championship if it makes you feel better, and it does sound fancy.
But it will be a lot fancier playing in the Premiership, and Otago arguably has the team to get there.
Head coach Tom Donnelly has assembled a wonderful crop of talented players.
The backs look particularly potent and, given they will play on a dry surface under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium every other week, we can all expect plenty of razzmatazz.
But Donnelly rightfully points out ‘‘you have to earn the right to play wide’’, and there is a wee problem up front.
Experienced hooker Liam Coltman injured his medial collateral ligament in the warm-up game against Canterbury and will miss most of the season, if not all of it.
Prop Sef Fa’agase is stranded in the United States and has been unable to secure a managed isolation spot. It is unclear when he will make it back.
Former Wallaby prop Jermaine Ainsley is making his way back from injury but might be up to four weeks away, and George Bower is with the All Blacks.
Tau Koloamatangi has been called in as a temporary replacement to fill the shortage and may end up staying on.
The fact development player Abraham Pole has been named to start at loosehead in the season opener against Southland in Dunedin this afternoon is an indication of how lean Otago’s front row stocks are.
But hey, what about those backs?
‘‘We are really happy with the squad we’ve assembled but unless we put some performances on the park they are just names on a piece of paper,’’ Donnelly said.
‘‘Our forwards have a massive job ahead to give us a platform to play off and we’ll need to do the tough work in the middle of the park which gives you the ability to play a bit wider.’’
Everybody but the opposition wants to see winger Jona Nareki with the ball in his hands. He was perhaps unlucky not to make the All Blacks given his form for the Highlanders this year.
Matt Faddes is back after a two-year overseas stint and it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Freedom Vahaakolo is being trialled at centre and Josh Ioane has a big opportunity to re-establish himself at first five.
‘‘Josh has been fantastic during the preseason for us. He has come out of a pretty tough Super Rugby campaign and then he has gone away with the Maori [All Blacks] and really, really enjoyed it.
‘‘He has turned up for us in fantastic condition and with a real drive to want to do well this season.’’
Donnelly felt the Championship would be evenly contested, despite Otago’s early season tag as favourite.
‘‘Anyone can beat anyone, so it is a big challenge for us each week to get our prep right and put a performance on the park we are really proud of.’’
Southland’s strength was up front last season, and the Stags were the best defensive unit in either the Championship or the Premiership.
Otago won the warm-up fixture, but the match shapes as a good early gauge.
