Otago Country begins its Hawke Cup season against Southland at Molyneux Park in Alexandra today.
The side will be looking to improve on its 2013-14 season, when it was in contention for a challenge in its final match but suffered a first-innings defeat. Country successfully challenged for the Hawke Cup, a competition for the minor provinces, in 2011 after winning the southern zone and beating holder North Otago.
However, Country lost it a week later, to Marlborough, in the first defence.
Otago Country has never had its name on the trophy. To do that, a side must be the holder at the end of the season.
Coach Andy Sainsbury has named an experienced side for the first match containing seasoned Hawke Cup players such as Queenstown batsmen Fraser Wilson and Jared Andrew and all-rounder Sean Windle.
Opener Chris Beck had some good outings last season and Sam Blakely was effective with the ball.
The Dunedin-based pair will be other players to watch.
An interesting inclusion is schoolboy batsman Blake Buttar-Scurr.
The Otago Boys' High School pupil has had a successful campaign with Otago Country in the first round of the Dunedin one-day competition this year and now gets a chance at Hawke Cup level.
