Just a handful of tickets are left for Otago supporters wishing to sit in a specially designed section at Rugby Park for the big challenge on August 7.
Rugby Southland general manager Craig Morton said the union had erected a temporary stand beside the main stand at the northern end of the ground.
This would hold 1100 fans and had been designated as the stand where Otago supporters would sit for the match.
As of yesterday afternoon just 20 tickets were left for that stand, as they had been snapped up by Otago supporters.
Otago fans were organising trips south and a train had been hired from Taieri Gorge Railway to take fans to Rugby Park.
Otago Rugby Football Union commercial manager Mike Kerr said the train idea was suggested and within a day all 300 seats had been picked up, mainly by corporate groups.
The train would leave Dunedin about noon for the 4.30pm game and return that night, though it may be a late arrival back in the city.
A Bledisloe test match is to be played in Christchurch that night, and train passengers would watch the game in Invercargill before heading home.
Kerr said there appeared to be huge interest in the game from Otago supporters, and buses were also planned to head south.
Morton said it would be very surprising if the game did not sell out.
The ground, with temporary seating, holds 19,200.
Morton said the shield had been a boon in the South, with huge interest in the trophy.
"It has spent hardly any time here in the office, but then that is the way it should be.
"It has been out and about at rugby clubs, schools, away on special visits," he said.
He said there had been a 75% increase in sales of season tickets this season.
Southland has challenges from Wanganui and North Otago before it takes on Otago in its first major challenge on August 7.
Morton said the side had to defend the shield against the two smaller unions before concentrating on the Otago challenge.
Otago has not held the shield since 1957, while Southland broke its 50-year duck when it defeated Canterbury in October last year.
