A tough opening week in premier rugby continues with round two scheduled for a 6pm start tonight.
The games may finish in the dark as twilight shortens but the Otago union did not want to start any earlier.
Kaikorai has avoided playing mid-week. It has the bye thanks to Pirates' absence this season.
Alhambra-Union had the bye on Saturday and will get its campaign under way against Dunedin at Kettle Park tonight. Zingari-Richmond is the only other team to avoid playing three games in eight days. It has the bye this Saturday but will play Southern at Bathgate Park tonight.
Southern v Zingari-Richmond, Bathgate Park
Southern booted six penalties in its victory against Harbour at Watson Park.
Star first five-eighth Josh Ioane drilled five of them but he left the field and will be sorely missed if he is unavailable. Southern will need to show more potency out wide if it is going to end its title drought this season.
Zingari-Richmond has a bit more starch in the pack this year. Lock Tom Rowe impressed in the 23-9 loss to the defending champion Kaikorai and loose forwards Eli Tonga and Jack Wolfreys also stood out.
Harbour v Taieri, Watson Park
Both teams suffered a loss in the opening round and the game shapes as an intriguing encounter.
Harbour arguably had the better of a powerful Southern pack and boasts a potent backline. Fullback Sala Halaleva can find a gap where there is none and prop Benny Rumble produced a strong effort at scrum time.
Taieri produced a spirited but scrappy performance against University. While the team is in a rebuilding phase, it still possesses some attacking weapons in Josh Casey and Christian Kelly. Loose forward Brodie Hume is an influential player for the Eels as well.
Green Island v University, Miller Park
Green Island is not the pushover it has been in the past.
It held its own against a powerful Dunedin pack at the weekend but struggled to make any impact on the outside.
It will probably look to keep the ball in hand and rumble it up through the forwards.
University, however, picked up a four-try bonus point in its win against Taieri. It has plenty of firepower out wide, so expect the students to employ an expansive game plan.
Centre Fa'asiu Fuatai is the key playmaker in the absence of Highlanders pivot Fletcher Smith.
Dunedin v Alhambra-Union, Kettle Park
Dunedin strung together a solid first-up effort against a much-improved Green Island.
Rookie first five-eighth George Witana had a handy debut and looks a good player, while centre Leroy van Dam is a dangerous ball carrier.
But the Sharks will look to their strengths and use their forward pack to grind down the opposition.
Alhambra-Union had the bye first up, so the side will be fresh and appears to have more depth this season. It will look to some promising players in its backline to put some points on the board.
