The five-yearly rotating draw puts Otago up against the two strongest teams in the first two rounds, meeting Canterbury and Tasman today.
Otago won all four matches at Russley last year, amassing 22.5 out of a possible 32 games, leaving Canterbury in second place and Southland third.
Despite this year's SBS interprovincial and interprovincial being played on the Otatara course in Invercargill this year, Southland has been severely affected by the absence of Mat Tautari and Tyler McLean.
Length will not be a factor on the 5617m Kawatiri Links but the right strategies and good course management will be essential on the short seaside course.
Southwesterly coastal winds are likely to arrive late morning or early afternoon and they will test the skills of the 40 amateurs competing in the event.
The tournament will double as the final trial for the Otago golfers before selection convener Greg Johnson reduces the team size from eight to five for the next two interprovincial events.
The absence of Brent McEwan has given the opportunity for other contenders to stake their claims for selection in the top quintet.
Inia Logan has made himself unavailable for this fixture after playing a plethora of competitive golf rounds in the last two months including playing at No4 for Otago in the recent triangular fixture.
Brandon Hodgson (Otago) and Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook) could be the beneficiaries of their absence and if the duo record three or four wins this weekend, the selectors would find it difficult to deny them a place in the top quintet.
Meanwhile, the Otago women will face the other four South Island provinces in a parallel event at Ashburton this weekend.
Otago women have been rebuilding and have two schoolgirl golfers, Abigael Crawford and Annabel Evans (both St Clair), at No2 and No3.
The well-performed Jo Hicks-Beach (Queenstown) will play at No1 while the team is made considerably stronger with Susan Greig (St Clair) coming out of retirement to play at No4.
This is likely to leave a single place in the top quintet available for other contenders and their records this weekend will likely decide that place.
