Otago will field a schoolboy star and plenty of pace when it defends its South Island regional sevens tournament in Timaru today.
Coach Roy Hawker has lost a fair bulk of the Otago side which overachieved last season in getting to the national final in Queenstown.
But the former Otago midfield back still has some exciting talent in his ranks, including Otago Boys' High School midfield back Aleki Morris.
Hawker said the intention was to bring Morris into training with an eye to the future, but he had made such an impact he had to be included in the actual squad.
"We had a trial game among ourselves last week and out of the 10 tries that were scored, I think Aleki got four of them," Hawker said.
"He may not be the fastest or the biggest guy but he has got the strongest will to have a go at everything.
"It was a bit of a no-brainer to pick him."
Morris can play in both the backs and forwards but Hawker said he would most likely to play in the backs.
Hawker said the team's fitness was good. It would look to move the ball wide and use the pace of Liam Edwards and Matt Faddes.
Pirates forward Josh Clark will captain the side, and Otago ITM Cup players Peter Breen and Brad Weber will be the play-makers.
Weber is a lively player and has a sharp turn of pace. His younger brother, Sam Weber, who played colts rugby for Dunedin last season, has also been picked in the squad.
The top five teams at the tournament will qualify for the national tournament in January, although Otago, as the host union, has already qualified.
Gone from last year's team are captain Paul Grant, who is recovering from a shoulder injury and is still unsure whether he will commit to sevens, Marshall Suckling (resting after the ITM Cup), Brad Cameron (overseas), Buxton Popoali'i (Highlanders), Joe Hill (Wellington) and Kieran Moffat (foot injury).
Tony Ensor and Gareth Evans have been at a New Zealand sevens camp in Mt Maunganui.
They may come into consideration for the Queenstown tournament, which is to be played on January 12-13.
The tournament in Timaru will feature seven teams. Otago plays North Otago at 11.20am and then Mid Canterbury at 1.20pm. Canterbury, Tasman, Southland and South Canterbury are in the other pool.
The semifinals are at 4.30pm and 4.50pm, and the final is at 7pm.
North Otago, coached by Jason Forrest, could be a surprise package. Billy Guyton and Lemi Masoe will provide a dangerous one-two punch, Sale Pi'i adds size and speed, and Tyron Davies is a livewire playmaker.
There is also a women's tournament in Timaru today with teams from Otago, Southland, Canterbury and Tasman competing.
South Island sevens
Timaru, today
• Otago: Josh Clark (captain), Ben Hanley, Hugh Blake, Brad Weber, Peter Breen, Matt Faddes, Liam Edwards, Tumua Ioane, Aleki Morris, Apelu Alapati, Kenton Leoataua, Adam Knight, Sam Weber.
• North Otago: Sale Pi'i, Paula Fonokalafi, Tyron Davies, Tafuga Sa, Billy Guyton, Lemi Masoe, Sione Pulu, Patrick Tou, Hamish McCulloch, Harry Frost, Ricky Litisone, Epalahame Toma.
