While he does not have a nickname for every blade of grass, the venue is like a second home to him during the summer.
Tamati has prepared the ground and the pitch for all six previous tests and told the Otago Daily Times the players could expect pretty much the same from the strip out in the middle.
That is sort of good news for the Black Caps. They have won two and drawn four of the six tests. They are also undefeated in five one-day internationals at the venue.
But while the Blacks Caps have an unblemished record at the University Oval, taking 20 test wickets has been a challenge.
''I think it will be pretty similar to what we've produced for the other test matches,'' Tamati said.
''We're hoping for a little bit [of seam movement early on] and then for it to flatten out and be a good track. Hopefully the weather does not interrupt us this time.''
Tamati was referring to the near miss against the West Indies in December 2013.
New Zealand needed 112 to win but was 79 for four when poor weather forced the players from the field five minutes before the tea break.
That game was also memorable for the double hundreds scored by New Zealand's Ross Taylor and West Indian Darren Bravo.
England was able to hang on for a draw in the test before that, thanks, in part, to a marathon effort from nightwatchman Steven Finn, who scored 56 in a more than four-hour stay at the crease.
The pitch has been on the slow side for Otago's home twenty20 matches this season, which Tamati put down to the quality of the grass.
But some ''blue skies and sunny weather'' has helped preparations and he is confident the pitch will offer some assistance for the seamers before reverting to type.
