The former England international has been in Dunedin for the past week or so to carry out some planning before the season.
He has one last playing commitment. He will front for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Champions League in India next month then return to Dunedin to start his new role as Otago head coach in October.
''Unfortunately, I've got this contract with the Hobart Hurricanes which I have to go back for,'' Mascarenhas said.
''That will see me go to the Champions League and then I get back around October 1 to start the season proper.
''In the last 10 days I've got some meetings done and spoken to some sponsors.
"I've also been familiarising myself with the guys that are here, because there are a lot of them that I haven't seen before.''
Mascarenhas, who played 20 one-day internationals and 14 twenty20s for England from 2007 to 2009, had two stints with Otago and was key member of the side which claimed the domestic twenty20 title in 2008-09.
So, he has good working knowledge of the playing resources which will be available to him but there is a new crop of players coming through.
He will have to squeeze every drop of talent out of the likes of Jacob Duffy and Blair Soper if Otago is going to be competitive in the longer formats, particularly given it has lost two experienced players with Neil Broom opting to return to Canterbury after nine seasons and the retirement of seamer Ian Butler.
''Butler will be a huge loss. He has been a regular for Otago in all forms for a long time now and it is pretty hard to replace people like that.
"And also with Neil Broom going back to Canterbury - he didn't have the best season last year but you still want that calibre of player in your team in all forms of cricket.
''But that leaves opportunities for others to come in and perform and we will be able to see what they are like.''
Mascarenhas said Otago's greatest challenge shaped as its seam bowling stocks.
Butler's departure has been partly off-set with the arrival of Tipene Friday but, in general, the seaming stocks look thin.
Much will depend on how much cricket Neil Wagner plays for Otago and how veterans James McMillan and Bradley Scott hold up.
''We'll have a young seam attack, absolutely. But like I said, there will be plenty of opportunities.
''It is going to be new start. It is a new start here for me.
"A new start for the lads and I think everyone, so far, is really excited about it.''
Mascarenhas said he will not be tempted to roll his arm over, no matter how bad things might get.
''I've done my lot. I'm ready for the next chapter now.''
While bowling might be a challenge, Otago's batting line-up still looks formidable despite Broom's absence.
Experienced opener Aaron Redmond has had a couple of tremendous seasons, Michael Bracewell had a breakthrough season with four first-class hundreds, Hamish Rutherford will be determined to win back his spot in the test team, and Jesse Ryder is in good form for Essex.
