Otago, playing at home, has a realistic chance of ending the domination of the Southern Lakes tennis team in the second round of the Southern League in Dunedin this weekend.
In the past, Southern Lakes, with former professionals Lan Bale and Perry Crockett and national top-tenner Mark Milburn, has dominated the men. Backed up by leading national junior Louise Oxnevad and her mother Felicity, who is a world-ranked veteran, and other highly ranked players, it has won the Rennie Trophy for several years.
However several Lakes players are expected to be unavailable and Lakes has lost former national junior representative Harry James, the recent Otago Open winner, who has transferred with his family to Dunedin.
In addition, Otago has been able to call on three nationally ranked juniors, including a title-winner in Libby Scott, as well as Georgia Hume and Sian English.
Both teams play Southland today in "curtain raisers" and are expected to have too much strength and depth.
Otago and Lakes meet tomorrow morning in what is shaping to be the main event.
There is also a second division of six teams. Otago B won it last year and has beaten its main rival from last year, North Otago twice already this season. Both teams are expected to have more depth this time but it is hard to see a turnaround.
Southern Lakes men are strong in depth but, because men's and women's points are added together, they are not in contention, the women's team being withdrawn.
