The sides will meet in what is becoming a traditional pre-season battle and if it is anything like the past few times they have met, points will be in plentiful supply.
They clashed three times last year and all games had more than 50 points scored, with plenty of movement and lots of thrilling tries.
Otago coach Tony Brown expects more of the same tomorrow.
''Otago and Tasman both play similar styles, so it should be a good hit-out for both teams,'' he said.
''Last year in our pre-season game, we really learned a lot. Just the way they approached the game and the intensity they brought to it and the speed they played at. For our guys who were straight out of club rugby, that was a real wake-up call.''
Tasman won that game 42-22 but Otago won the two games that mattered, in the ITM Cup.
Brown is looking for his side to set a benchmark for the season tomorrow, and said it was time to get started.
''This is the first time we have all been together as a squad. The first time we have been able to pick fit players and see how they measure up.
''You always want to win every game you play but it will be of just as much interest to see what we need to work on and how our plans are progressing.''
Brown admitted the game against Tasman and then the game against Southland in Gore next Friday would be important in the preparation for the opening ITM Cup game against Bay of Plenty on August 18.
Despite tomorrow's game being the first proper hit-out for the season, injuries have already reared their head.
Gareth Evans is bracketed on the bench with Josh Dickson after picking up an elbow injury in the club final. A decision will be made today on whether Evans travels north.
Kieran Moffat has a groin strain, while Fa'asiu Fuatai is still getting over a turf toe injury.
Lock Tom Franklin has a sore hamstring and Brown said Otago was being cautious with the injury, as it was the same hamstring Franklin tore badly at the end of last season.
Experienced lock Tom Donnelly will join the squad on Monday after a game of club rugby in Christchurch today.
Teihorangi Walden and Jayden Spence are both coming back from concussion issues and when they will be available is still up in the air.
Brown said the injuries were part and parcel of the game and he did not want to rush anyone back into playing if they were not ready.
The side would leave for Nelson at 7.15am tomorrow and be back in Dunedin tomorrow night about 8pm. Brown has no issue with the travel. Otago arrives in Nelson about 11.30am and kick-off is 1.15pm. The match is not a first-class game.
Tasman has named a strong team, with former North Otago back Billy Guyton at halfback.
The Tasman side will be captained by new Highlander Shane Christie, who has been named Makos captain for the ITM Cup season. Highlanders forward Joe Wheeler has also been named in the Tasman team.
One-off jersey promotes environment fund
It has always been blue and gold but now the Otago jersey will have a bit of southern high country sprinkled over it - for one game, anyway.
Longtime sponsor Speight's has joined with the Otago Rugby Football Union to help promote the brewery's environment fund.
The fund was established in 2009 to support environmental projects throughout Dunedin. It started with a $25,000 donation from Speight's and receives donations from those who get water from the tap at the brewery in Rattray St.
But the company wanted to relaunch the fund and thought there was no better way to do it than to use its long-standing association with Otago rugby.
The fund will now finance projects right across Otago, not just Dunedin.
Speight's Brewery tour manager Chris Snow said the company decided to try a one-off jersey to be worn by the Otago team in its opening game of the ITM Cup season against Bay of Plenty at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 18.
Speight's commissioned Alexandra photographer Todd Sisson to take a photograph of the Hawkdun Range and that had been put on the front of the Otago jersey, showing some of the stunning environment people in Otago lived in.
Some of the 25 special jerseys would be auctioned during the game and there would be donation buckets for the fund at the ground. Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said the union was right behind the project, supporting a long-term sponsor for a good cause.
About $100,000 has been raised since the fund started four years ago and Snow said he hoped the initiative would give it impetus.
Otago v Tasman
Nelson, tomorrow, 1.15pm
Otago: Tony Ensor, Aki Yamada, Matt Faddes, Michael Collins, Buxton Popoali'i, Peter Breen, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Hugh Blake, Lee Allan, Ezra Taylor, Charlie O'Connell, Tama Tuirirangi, Liam Coltman, Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Scott Manson, Gareth Evans or Josh Dickson, Willis Scott, Josh Renton, Hayden Parker, Aleki Morris.
Tasman: Robbie Malneek, Bryce Heem, Kieron Fonotia, Andrew Symons, James Lowe, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton, George Stowers, Shane Christie (captain), Liam Squire, Joe Wheeler, Tevita Cavubati, Sila Puafisi, Francis Smith, Tim Perry. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siua Halanukonuka, Alex Ainley, Vernon Fredericks, Willie Alaiasa, Mitchell Scott, Tevita Koloamatangi.
Referee: Mike Fraser.
