Slade (23) is one of three members of the Highlanders Super 15 squad who are in the Canterbury team for its first defence of the Ranfurly Shield this season.
The others are aggressive No 8 Nasi Manu and right winger Telusa Veainu, who scored nine tries in his 15 matches for Canterbury last year.
Slade needs top performances for Canterbury to force his way back into the All Blacks.
He played his first test last year but suffered a setback to his World Cup hopes when his jaw was broken twice during the Highlanders Super 15 campaign. He also had a groin niggle.
The other Canterbury regular in the team is halfback Willi Heinz.
But North Otago should not feel complacent because the team is filled with promising players from Christchurch club rugby.
Hooker Paul Ngauamo played for the New Zealand uner-20 team that beat Australia to win the junior world championship in Argentina last year.
Openside flanker Brendon O'Connor is a former New Zealand Colt who played for New Zealand Universities last year.
Pacy winger Patrick Osbourne was also in the Universities team.
The Canterbury captain is blindside flanker Ash Parker, who has played 21 games forthe province.
It is Canterbury's first defence of the Ranfurly Shield this season.
It regained the Log o' Wood last October, when it beat Southland 26-16, and defended it when it beat Counties 39-21.
With AMI Stadium out of action because of the earthquake, the game has been shifted to Rugby Park.
The ground, which is now the headquarters for the Canterbury team, has a crowd capacity of 6000.
Canterbury team
To play North Otago
Johnny McNicholl, Telusa Veainu, Robbie Flynn, Tom Taylor, Patrick Osbourne, Colin Slade, Willi Heinz, Nasi Manu, Brendon O'Connor, Ash Parker (captain), Joel Everson, Luke Katene, Paea Fa'anunu, Paul Ngauamo, Joe Moody. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Sam Cottam, Mark Abbott, Bernie Hall, Mark Swanepoel, Kolio Hifo.
