A good start is imperative for Otago tonight against Northland in what is shaping as a make-or-break game for the side.
Otago sits in eighth place in the Air New Zealand Cup, with just one win from four starts, but it has four bonus points.
It needs to start winning if it wants to have any hope in a competition where there appear to be no easy victories.
Last week, Otago was caught cold at the start and was a converted try down after five minutes against Manawatu.
A similarly glacial effort out of the blocks tonight will play into the hands of a Northland team playing in Whangarei for the first time this season, with a big supportive crowd bound to be in attendance.
Otago coach Steve Martin is aware of the need to start well and play a percentage game.
"They [Northland] are playing for the first time at home and are bound to have a decent crowd there who will get behind them.
"So we need to start well and take the influence of the crowd out of the game," Martin said.
"That start last week came from a first five-eighth running at the line in the first few minutes, which caught some of us unawares.
"But we need to be awake to those things."
Look to first five-eighth Chris Noakes to put the ball in the air, and Otago to employ a good chase.
The side will also have to be vigorous at the breakdown.
Martin said the team needed to get back to some of the good rugby it had played in the first three matches, but would be backing its defence and ability to grind the opposition down.
"We're going to have to be a bit more circumspect in what we are doing.
"But in saying that, we are not going to go away from trying to create scoring opportunities."
Otago has been dominating on the statistics board, winning both territory and possession in three of its four matches so far.
Interestingly, in Otago's only win, against North Harbour, it had little ball or territory for long periods of the game.
In many of this year's Air NZ Cup games, winning possession and territory has meant nothing as teams have backed their defence and ability to force turnovers.
Otago needs to stiffen its defence, especially in the backs, where Northland has a couple of game-breakers in winger Rene Ranger and fullback and captain Jared Payne.
Aaron Bancroft comes into the side at second five-eighth to lend some experience to the backline, while former New Zealand Warrior Ryan Shortland gets his chance at centre.
Winger Fetu'u Vainikolo returns to the park where he launched his representative career, and will want to show he has not lost his speed or guile since moving south.
The Otago forward pack needs to dominate and compete well in the line-out, where Northland has looked average at times this season.
Northland last beat Otago back in 1990, also at Okara Park.
The park is under redevelopment for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and is in less-than-ideal condition.
It was deemed unplayable earlier this season because of wet weather but was passed fit for play last week, although Northland coach Bryce Woodward said it was not 100%.
Also at the back of the mind for Otago this weekend is the Ranfurly Shield challenge between Wellington and Canterbury in the capital tomorrow night.
If Canterbury lifts the Shield, Otago will be the first challenger, on September 12.
Otago has only once had two Shield challenges in a season, in 1921, when it lost to Southland and Wellington.
Fine conditions are expected for tonight's match.
Northland v Otago
Whangarei, tonight, 7.35pm
TAB odds: Otago $1.85, Northland $1.90
Referee: Ben Skeen (Auckland)
Otago: Ben Smith, Karne Hesketh, Ryan Shortland, Aaron Bancroft, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Chris Noakes, Sean Romans, Paul Grant, Alando Soakai (captain), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Hayden Triggs, Sam Hibbard, Jason Macdonald, Ben Nolan.
Reserves: Peter Mirrielees, Kees Meeuws, Hoani Matenga, Steven Setephano, James Kenny, Glenn Dickson, Michael Witt.
Northland: Jared Payne (captain), Brook Gilmore, Damien Fakafanua, Derek Carpenter, Rene Ranger, Lachie Munro, Rhyan Caine, Cameron Eyre, Matt Clutterbuck, Joel McKenty, Cameron Jowitt, Daniel Goodwin, Karl Haitana, Mikaele Tuu'u, Bronson Murray.
Reserves: Tim Dow, Matt Wallis, Michael Farmer, Eroni Gadolo, Luke Hamilton, Jon Elrick, Sione Fonua.
