North Otago has added some experience and some fresh muscle for its match against a resurgent Buller in Oamaru today.
Promising tighthead prop Rohan Wingham has recovered from a calf strain and will make his debut for the Old Golds.
Veteran campaigner Josh Clark has been named at lock. He has been coaching at King’s High School and was unavailable until now.
And the other notable change will see Jake Matthews start at first five. Regular pivot Josh Robertson-Weepu has picked up a calf injury and was ruled out. He will be out for up to three weeks.
Matthews mostly plays halfback these days, but has previously started at 10 at Heartland level.
North Otago thumped Wairarapa-Bush 35-5 in the opening round.
Coach Jason Forrest said it was a great start to the campaign, but there was always plenty to work on.
"It wasn’t a polished performance, but it was a good performance to start our season. The promising thing is we probably left 30 points out there, to be fair, as well."
North Otago’s scrambling defence was solid in the second half, not letting Wairarapa Bush score, and it showed the "ticker" of the team.
"It’s just the mental lapses in concentration at the moment that are letting ourselves down and letting teams back into the game," he said.
Buller got its first win in three years against Mid Canterbury last week and North Otago will need to step up in front of its home crowd.
"They will be full of confidence and they are a really good side this year," Forrest said.
"If we let them play well, they’ll play well.
"We just need to make sure we start well and hopefully take the wind out of their sails pretty early."
Forrest is also hoping his side will sharpen up its execution.
"[The game against Wairarapa-Bush] was live on TV which was unreal for our players. But it was wet and very windy, so we need to improve just some of our basic execution on playing to the conditions, and just having a bit of belief in each other."
Heartland Championship
Oamaru, today, 2.30pm
North Otago: Levi Emery, Ben Paton, Jermaine Pepe, Hayden Todd, Mone Samate, Jake Matthews, Mataitini Feke, Junior Fakatoufifita, Josh Reid, Seta Koroitamana, Josh Clark, Manulua Taiti, Rohan Wingham, Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki. Reserves: Sam Sturgess, Sione Palaa, Lisivani Tuifua, Ratu Logavatu, Angus Foster, Josh Phipps, Inoke Naufahu, Matthew Vocea.
Buller: Jesse Pitman-Joass, Mitieli Kaloudigibeci, Michael Stringer, Alex Lean, Iliesa Tora, Jack Parker, Thor Manawatu, Greg Foe, Jamie Tinetti, Ben Pratt, Isei Lewaqai, Te Puoho Stephens, Tapi Allen, Anthony Ellis (captain), Tim Dallison. Reserves: Peter Foote, Stephen Crackett, Ehipa Thompson, Kyle Te Tai, Taine Brownlee, Brett Cutbush, Logan Heath, Luke Barrow.
