The team went down to Auckland 24-19 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, but it showed courage and commitment go a long way against a team from the big city.
With a shade of luck and the bounce of the ball, Otago could have had a victory over an Auckland side which just did enough to secure the four points.
With one bonus point from the game, Otago sits on 26 points in the championship in the ITM Cup, two points ahead of Tasman.
If Tasman beats North Harbour tomorrow, Otago will be going to Nelson for a semifinal. Anything less than a Tasman victory and Otago will host a semifinal next Saturday.
First though, Otago will have to find 15 fit players after a bruising match left Otago with plenty of walking wounded.
Otago coach Tony Brown had nothing but praise for his team for the way the players stood up to the Auckland team.
"It was a huge effort from the guys. Real heart out there. They gave it everything and it was a little bit like the old days, where guys got injured but wouldn't come off," Brown said.
"I'm really proud of the way the guys played. If a few little things had gone our way, some passes had stuck and we had hung on to the ball a bit more then we could have come away with a win."
Brown agreed the side had made huge advances from last week when it lost heavily to Wellington.
"We managed to shut down their game ... physically we were way more into the game and that kept us in the game. We just needed to be a bit more accurate in attack and we will be fine."
Brown said it was hard to get much going as he felt the Auckland defence was offside for much of the game.
Otago tried to push the ball at nearly every chance, when perhaps it should have played the ball more in Auckland's territory but that would be nit-picking.
The busiest man in the Otago camp in the next few days will be the medical man.
Lock Justin Ives received a cut to his face, and had to go to hospital, as it was near his eye.
Fullback Tony Ensor twisted his knee, lock Tom Franklin blew a hamstring, loose forward Lee Allan broke a rib, first five-eighth Hayden Parker damaged his hip and No 8 Gareth Evans had a sore ankle.
The bench was well and truly empty at the end of the game.
"It is going to be carnage in the medical ward but, hopefully, we can get as many guys as possible back and the focus will be on getting guys fit for next week," Brown said.
Otago was not far away in a match in which neither side skipped clear.
The decider came with 10 minutes left and just one point separating the teams. Replacement Otago flanker Adam Hill slipped away but his pass to Aki Seiuli was intercepted by classy Auckland fullback Charles Piutau. With clear space in front of him, he skipped to the line to seal the game for Auckland. Gareth Anscombe kicked the conversion to put Auckland eight points clear.
Otago wisely kicked a penalty near the end, to secure a bonus point.
Best for Otago was halfback Fumiaki Tanaka again, while Parker was as tidy as usual.
Hooker Sam Anderson-Heather got round the paddock and scored a nice try in the first half, after some beautiful hands by both backs and forwards from Otago.
Lock Rob Verbakel played well when he came on, and prop Seiuli played his best game in the Otago jersey.
Auckland had scored its first try just after 10 minutes.
It seized on a turnover and winger Ben Lam got in behind the Otago defence.
The visiting side then swung the ball to the left and had huge numbers, although prop Pauliasi Manu almost blew the try by cutting back in.
The ball eventually, though, went to winger Dave Thomas, who dived over in the corner.
ITM Cup
The scores
Auckland ... 24
Dave Thomas, Charles Piutau tries, Gareth Anscombe 4 pen, con
Otago ... 19
Sam Anderson-Heather try, Hayden Parker 3 pen, con, Glenn Dickson pen
Halftime: 14-13 Auckland.
Crowd: 4000
ITM Cup
The draw
Southland v Manawatu
• Invercargill, Friday, 7.35pm
Northland v Counties-Manukau
• Whangarei, Saturday, 2.35pm
Waikato v Hawkes Bay
• Hamilton, Saturday, 5.35pm
Tasman v North Harbour
• Nelson, Saturday, 7.35pm
Wellington v Taranaki
• Wellington, Sunday, 2.35pm
Canterbury v Bay of Plenty
• Christchurch, Sunday, 4.35pm
