The Otago Spirit will be on a flying mission to Christchurch tomorrow for what is undoubtedly a tough assignment.
The women's side takes on Canterbury at Rugby Park, as the curtain-raiser to the ITM Cup game between Canterbury and Northland.
Canterbury has racked up big wins in its first two games, beating Hawkes Bay 60-0 and Manawatu 65-7, while Otago has lost twice, first to Wellington, 57-0, and then to Hawkes Bay, 13-12.
So it is going to be a tough assignment against Canterbury, which is packed with Black Ferns.
Spirit coach Tim Belcher is fully aware of the task in front of his side, but said it was important not to be overawed.
"We have set ourselves some goals and it is important that we achieve them. We don't need to get too wrapped up with who they have playing for them," he said.
He felt the side had competed well in the tight five last week but had failed to make the most of the opportunities which came along.
He had made a couple of changes to the inside-back combination with Rebecca Todd starting at halfback and Victoria Nafatali moving into first five-eighth. He hoped the changes would give the side more direction around the park.
Hooker Bobby Symes has picked up a knee injury at training and is replaced by veteran Cherie Jackson.
An interesting newcomer to the Otago bench is former Black Ferns prop Kathleen Whilton.
She had last played for the national side in 2007 and has been playing rugby in Edmonton in Canada.
Belcher said she had got a call from the national selectors about coming back to play in the provincial competition with a view to getting back into the national side.
She had answered the call and arrived back in the country yesterday.
Otago will leave at 7.20am tomorrow and is scheduled to be back in Dunedin by 5.20pm.
Belcher said the flying visit should not be too much of a hassle for the team.
