Kieran Moffat will make a long-awaited debut on Sunday as Otago gets its ITM Cup campaign under way.
Moffat (24) was named on the right wing to play Bay of Plenty at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Moffat was poised to be fully involved for Otago last year but a nasty foot injury picked up just before the season was about to begin sidelined him. It was eventually diagnosed as a fracture and he was not sighted all season.
An impressive club season this year, including picking up 17 tries for his Taieri club, kept Moffat in the picture and he will make his debut for Otago on Sunday.
Otago has plenty of options on the flanks but Moffat will get a go after missing the pre-season as he recovered from a slight groin strain.
Lee Allan gets the nod at openside flanker to replace the injured Hugh Blake. Allan played in the No 7 shirt a lot for Otago last season and did nothing wrong.
TJ Ioane will start on the bench and is likely to be inserted into the game to add some impetus and go-forward. Ioane made some real progress for the Highlanders this season and will want to keep his game on song for Otago.
Willis Scott will make his Otago debut if he gets off the bench.
Pirates prop Craig Millar, who impressed against Southland in a warm-up game last Friday, will start in the front row, alongside Liam Coltman and Scott Manson.
Peter Breen will partner Michael Collins in the midfield, although options were limited with both Jayden Spence and Teihorangi Walden still coming back from head knocks.
Of the 15 taking the paddock, only six started for Otago in the last ITM Cup match of 2012, the Championship final against Counties-Manukau.
Gone from that team are Ben Smith (All Blacks), Marshall Suckling, Jackson Hemopo, Tama Tuirirangi (injured), Aki Seiuli (reserves), Tamati Ellison, Glenn Dickson, Adam Thomson and Rob Verbakel (overseas).
Bay of Plenty will finalise its team today. It has signed former Wallaby international and Queensland flanker Beau Robinson and he is expected to play on Sunday.
Otago v Bay of Plenty
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Sunday, 4.35pm
Otago: Tony Ensor, Kieran Moffat, Michael Collins, Peter Breen, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Lee Allan, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Tom Donnelly, Scott Manson, Liam Coltman, Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Aki Seiuli, Charlie O'Connell, TJ Ioane, Willis Scott, Josh Renton, Fa'aisu Fuatai.
