Otago coach Steve Martin named a 28-man squad to begin training on Monday.
It is just six weeks until the first game of the Air New Zealand Cup, a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington on July 31, and Martin said he was happy with the squad he had assembled.
"We're pleased with what we got out of the trial. A lot of these guys have been working hard in the training group and we have been monitoring guys in club rugby quite closely and a lot of those guys stood out in the trial," Martin said.
There are 11 players yet to wear the Otago jersey in the squad though many of them may not make the final cut when the Air New Zealand Cup squad is named in the middle of next month.
No captain has been named.
Halfback James Kenny and first five-eighth Sam Young, both from the Lawrence club, have made the squad, although Young may struggle to get a start with three other first five-eighths - Chris Noakes, Glenn Dickson and Michael Witt - included.
John Legg, a halfback from Christchurch, has been named in the squad.
Legg was part of the New Zealand Under-19 squad in 2006 and has played for the Canterbury Colts, but his path was blocked in Canterbury by the likes of Tyson Keats and Steve Alfeld, so he has looked elsewhere.
Martin said with Toby Morland moving to Munster, a place for a second halfback in the squad, alongside Junior Tall Black Sean Romans, had opened up and Legg had taken the initiative by coming down and playing in the trial.
Martin said Legg would be designated as a loan player - though he will play for Zingari-Richmond - as he was still listed as a Canterbury player at the start of this month.
All players must be playing rugby for their union by the end of May. Martin said they were still sorting out Legg's documentation.
Tighthead prop Pieter van de Merwe has been selected and Martin said he had played a couple of impressive club games for Harbour.
The 24-year-old South African had played Currie Cup rugby for the Golden Lions and had been playing in Australia before moving to Dunedin to link up with Harbour loose forward Eben Joubert, also a South African.
League converts Ryan Shortland and Michael Witt have made the squad. Taieri has four players in the squad.
Witt and Shortland are joined by loose forward Charlie O'Connell and hooker Jason Macdonald, who has moved from the Dunedin club.
Tom Donnelly, Alando Soakai and Romans were not considered for the squad as they are in Fiji at the Pacific Nations Cup, while Adam Thomson is recovering from a broken bone in his hand.
Otago has its first pre-season match against North Otago in Oamaru on July 1 and then plays Mid Canterbury, Tasman and Southland in other pre-season matches.
Otago squad
For pre-season games
Forwards: Peter Mirrielees (Harbour), Jason Macdonald (Taieri), Keith Cameron (Dunedin), Ben Nolan (Harbour), Sam Hibbard (University A), Pieter van de Merwe (Harbour), Hayden Triggs (Green Island), Charlie O'Connell (Taieri), Seko Qaraniqio (Kaikorai), Adam Hill (Kaikorai), Hoani Matenga (University A), Paul Grant (University A), Steven Setephano (Zingari-Richmond), Eben Joubert (Harbour).
Backs: James Kenny (Lawrence), John Legg (Zingari-Richmond), Glenn Dickson (Pirates), Chris Noakes (University A), Brett Mather (University A), Andrew Parata (University A), Lucky Mulipola (Southern), Fetu'u Vainikolo (Kaikorai), Ben Smith (Green Island), Karne Hesketh (Alhambra-Union), Ryan Shortland (Taieri), Michael Witt (Taieri), Luke Herden (Southern), Sam Young (Lawrence).
