Otago coach Steve Martin said the side did not possess a big set of Polynesian ball-runners, so would have to play a game revolving around mobility rather than confrontation.
Craig Newby was appointed captain of the squad, named last night, with No 8 Steven Setephano appointed vice-captain.
Martin said the hard-running loose forward, who transferred to Otago from Waikato this season, was the "future of Otago rugby".
He said Newby would start off as first-choice openside flanker.
He had shaken off a neck injury and was expected to start against Southland on August 2, in the opening round of the competition.
Martin also had praise for the attitude of his team captain.
"A lot of people seem to think as soon as a player has signed an overseas contract, that they have a foot on the plane. Well, Craig is not like that," Martin said.
"He wants to give back to Otago something before he goes, and he has a lot to offer young Steven."
Newby has signed to play for Leicester Tigers from the end of the domestic season.
Setephano (23) had good values and carried much mana within the squad, he said.
Setephano, who is a strong ball-runner, is carrying a calf injury and is unlikely to play against Southland but should be available for the following week's match against Canterbury at Carisbrook.
The side had a strong mobile forward pack, and that mobility was an asset, Martin said.
With the competition to be played under the experimental law variations (Elvs), it was possible to play a game based around mobility, and get away from a confrontational approach.
Players such as forwards Uili Kolo'ofai and Seko Qaraniqio were athletic and quick, which would suit the Otago game.
Midfielder Aaron Bancroft would lead the backs.
There was good balance in the inside backs, and hard ball-runners on the outside, in Karne Hesketh and Lucky Mulipola.
Otago had a strong set-piece, which would help its mobile game, he said.
Otago has lost both its warm-up matches, against Southland and Wellington, and in an ideal world Martin would have liked to play another warm-up game this weekend.
He also named four players - midfield back Andrew Parata, fullback Casey Stone, prop Sam Hibbard and flanker Carl Anderson - to form the bulk of a train-on squad which would train with the main squad.
Otago squad
For Air NZ Cup
Jason Macdonald (Dunedin), Peter Mirrielees(Harbour), Jed Vercoe (Southern), Keith Cameron (Dunedin), Jeremy Aldworth (University A), Ben Nolan (Harbour), Ross Kennedy (Pirates), Seko Qaraniqio (Kaikorai), Tom Donnelly (Matakanui Combined), Craig Newby (captain, Dunedin), Hoani Matenga (University A), Eben Joubert(Harbour), Uili Kolo'ofai (Southern), Steven Setephano (vice-captain, Zingari Richmond), Paul Grant (University A), Sean Romans (University A), Toby Morland (Kaikorai), Daniel Bowden (Dunedin), Chris Noakes(University A), Dan Snee (University A), Aaron Bancroft (Harbour), Brett Mather (University A), Lucky Mulipola (Southern), Karne Hesketh (Alhambra-Union), Ben Smith (Green Island), Glen Horton (Harbour).
