The Air New Zealand Cup may be more of a staying race than a sprint, but Otago needs to be first past the post against Hawkes Bay in Napier today.
The match against the Magpies at McLean Park, where Otago has not played since 1993, is a do-or-die battle for Otago.
The side must start winning to have any hope of featuring in the competition semifinals.
Otago, which sits 10th on the table, has won just two games out of seven so far this season, and with just five games left after today, wins are vital.
Though the table is cluttered and no team is far enough ahead to be comfortable, the blue and golds are in danger of falling off the pace and getting stuck behind too many teams.
The side has not been far away - as shown by its six bonus points - but it has not been ruthless enough on attack and has let through tries at critical times in matches.
Coach Steve Martin acknowledged the side needed to start posting wins, which he said would come through good defence and converting chances.
"Every week now we need to be collecting wins. We have not been able to get that last try to get the win. Now is the time in the competition when the table really starts to take shape," Martin said.
"They are still a lot of sides who have to play each other, and we have a reasonable run-in with four of our last six games at home.
"There is still a lot of hope for us to get into the semifinals," he said. Otago's forwards have improved as the season has gone on, and recognition of this has come in the selection of Adam Thomson and Tom Donnelly in the All Blacks.
Martin praised the front eight but knows they will be in for a tough battle against an experienced Hawkes Bay forward pack.
"The forwards played really well last week and gave us plenty of ball. Now we've got to make the most of that ball."
Hawkes Bay has a quality front row, with Clint Newland anchoring the scrum and hooker Hika Elliot keen to get his game back to the level that led to his selection in the All Blacks last year.
Martin is expecting a fired-up Hawkes Bay side, which is back at home after two away games.
The Magpies were tipped by many to be right in the title hunt this year and, after starting well, they have been a mixed bag.
But the side appeared to get back on track last week with a 34-17 win over Harbour.
It has 10 Super 14 players in its starting line-up, compared with just seven in the Otago side.
The match will feature Highlanders on opposing sides, with Hawkes Bay fielding five players from the southern franchise, including key backs Israel Dagg and Jason Shoemark.
Lock Matt Egan has been cleared to play and Highlanders loose forward George Naoupu will start on the bench.
Otago needs to be more ruthless in and around the ball and bank the points when it gets down in the attacking zone.
With the selection of Michael Witt at first five-eighth, and Andrew Parata outside him, Otago has shown it wants to show more in attack, and to try to keep the ball in hand.
Cloudy conditions and occasional showers are expected in Napier today.
Otago v Hawkes Bay
Napier, today, 4.35pm
TAB odds: Hawkes Bay $1.50, Otago $2.50
Referee: Keith Brown (Southland)
Otago: Ben Smith, Karne Hesketh, Brett Mather, Andrew Parata, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Michael Witt, Sean Romans, Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai (captain), Eben Joubert, Hayden Triggs, Hoani Matenga, Kees Meeuws, Peter Mirrielees, Keith Cameron.
Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Ben Nolan, Seko Kalou, Paul Grant, James Kenny, Glenn Dickson, Ryan Shortland.
Hawkes Bay: Israel Dagg, Jason Kupa, Jason Shoemark (captain), Zac Guildford, Andrew Horrell, Mathew Berquist, Chris Eaton, Thomas Waldrom, Karl Lowe, Michael Johnson, Matt Egan, Ross Kennedy, Clint Newland, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Josh Keys, George Naoupu, Hugh Reed, Dane Shelford, Richard Buckman, Mark Jackman.
