Highlanders coach Glenn Moore believes he has a more balanced squad than last year, and there is a better feeling within the squad already.
Moore named 11 new Highlanders yesterday.
To the surprise of many, he chose 10 players who turned out for Otago this year and just eight from Southland, despite the southern side making the final four of the Air New Zealand Cup and Otago finishing a lowly 10th.
But Moore said he did not look into where a player came from in selection, though he said some players were unlucky.
"We selected a group of players who can come together and complement each other," Moore said.
"At the end of the day you select players for the type of game you want to play. But there are always going to be controversies. That is selection."
The side has 17 players back from last year.
Hawkes Bay provides four players, while Wellington prop Anthony Perenise is the other draft player, though he was loaned to play for Hawkes Bay in the Air New Zealand Cup.
There are actually 15 players from Otago, but not all wore the blue and gold jersey this season.
Three of them - Jayden Hayward, Clint Newland and Johnny Leota - are going to be loaned back to their provinces in the Air New Zealand Cup, while another two, Hayden Triggs and Fetu'u Vainikolo, have signed for the province until 2010.
Moore hopes the continuity of players will help the side.
He has picked one more back and one less forward than last year, saying the new rules had changed the approach to the game.
"Last year at selection time we had no understanding about the rules. We selected a side at that time which was a little bit more about hard running to break the line and keep it in the forwards.
"But we've looked at the way the game is played, with more kicking, a back three which must contain power players, good aerobic players, those good in the air."
Moore said the side had more players with flair and good skills, which he hoped to use.
The likes of centre Leota could take the ball up the middle and be more direct, but players such as Hayward had the vision to create chances.
He liked the balance of the squad.
He hoped the continuity of 17 players back from last year would be able to turn the narrow losses of last season into victories.
"We want to have significant growth. Last year we had a group of inexperienced fellows who had a few close losses. But those losses are not acceptable to me."
Moore said the supporters' expectations would be higher next year, but his were always the same - to win every game.
"I think last year we got a lot of feedback that we played with a lot of courage and conviction and never gave up.
"I'm delighted with what we've named and can't wait to get started."
Goal-kicking was a thorn in the Highlanders' side last season, but Hawkes Bay and former Otago first five-eighth Matt Berquist is back in Super 14 rugby.
"Matt is one of the best goal-kickers in the country. He was up at 85% and he knows how to steer a side round the paddock. Daniel Bowden, too - his goal kicking really improved during the later part of the Air New Zealand Cup."
Moore spent every weekend of the last three months travelling the country watching Air New Zealand Cup games but said selection was not easy and not having co-coaches Peter Russell and Steve Martin on board until about 10 days ago did not help.
He admitted there were unlucky players - Aaron Bancroft, Matt Saunders and Pehi Te Whare, were three examples - and he felt for them, but he could only pick so many.
A captain had yet to be named, while the side's three All Blacks - Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan and Jamie Mackintosh - should be back with the side in early January.
Newland was coming off a shoulder injury and was likely to be right when training starts, while flanker Alando Soakai was well into training after a shoulder reconstruction.
The side starts training on December 1.
Moore said the side had pre-season games lined up against the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues.
Though the draw has yet to be released, a draft draw had the Highlanders scheduled to start the competition against the Brumbies at Carisbrook on the weekend of February 13-15.
