Otago has rather plateaued of late - only one win in the past five matches - and has now slipped to such a position that it needs to win its remaining three games and then hope results go its way to get into the championship final.
With its midweek game against Manawatu postponed because of the weather, Otago has the benefit of a full week's rest and has all players from its squad available, apart from captain Eben Joubert, who is still out with a knee injury.
There are four changes from the Otago side which lost to Waikato last Sunday. Lock Tom Donnelly comes back into the team to replace Rob Verbakel and No 8 Andrew Stead replaces Gareth Evans.
In the backs, Ben Atiga and Joe Hill come back into the team, in place of Jayden Spence and Matt Faddes.
Some Otago contracted players will play for the B side against Otago Country in Balclutha today.
Otago co-coach Phil Mooney said it was obviously an important game for the squad against a Tasman team which played in a dynamic type of style.
"They like to play a pretty fast, open sort of game and it will be a big challenge for us. We will have to have a well-organised defence," he said.
"But the important thing for us is we don't get drawn into playing their game and we concentrate on playing within our structures and relying on each other in defence."
Otago has been guilty of making too many small errors at times and those have cost points. The team had been accurate at set piece time and its scrum has been solid but it has just been too untidy at critical times.
"That is the difference between teams. Regardless what division each team is in, the games are really close. These games are decided by the team which makes the less errors."
Prop Kees Meeuws had looked doubtful earlier in the week, struggling with a foot injury, but has improved and will take his place in the starting XV.
Otago needs to show some fluency in its back play and be ruthless in attack.
The breakdown battle was lost last week, and although referee rulings are all over the place in that regard, Otago simply must get more continuity into its game and recycle its own ball quickly if it wants to be competitive.
The return of Donnelly and Daniel Ramsay should help the set piece, while Tony Brown will be all the better for a few more days off.
Tasman played last Tuesday and scored an upset win over Auckland, 30-28. Tasman has made no changes to its side which fronted for that game, a rarity in this rapid fire competition.
Otago has never lost to Tasman, and managed to scrap a messy 13-11 win in Nelson last year.
Fine weather is forecast for the top of the South Island tomorrow.
OTAGO v TASMAN
- Trafalgar Park, tomorrow, 2.35pm
• Otago: Ben Smith, Joe Hill, Ben Atiga, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Tony Brown, Sean Romans, Andrew Stead, Regan Tamihere, TJ Ioane, Tom Donnelly (captain), Daniel Ramsay, Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, James McGougan.
Reserves: Jason MacDonald, Pieter van der Merwe, Scott Manson, Rob Verbakel, Gareth Evans, Johnny Legg, Hayden Parker, Jayden Spence.
• Tasman: Tom Marshall, Robbie Malneek, Kieron Fonotia, Andrew Goodman (captain), Lucky Mulipola, James Marshall, Steve Alfeld, Mark Bright, Shane Christie, Liam Squire, Joe Wheeler, Pablo Huete, Sam Prattley, Quentin MacDonald, Fai Mika.
Reserves: Vernon Fredericks, Francis Smith, Hamish Cochrane, Riki Hoeata, Jonathan Poff, Shawn Begg, Jack Umaga, Mitchell Scott.
