Otago could have a crack at the Ranfurly Shield again next year.
The crossover draw for next year's ITM Cup, confirmed yesterday, has Otago facing four premiership teams: Waikato, Canterbury, Tasman and Counties-Manukau.
It will face Waikato and Canterbury at home and take on Tasman and Counties-Manukau away.
The competition does not have a big enough window to fit in a true round robin, so selections are done to match up teams from the premiership and the championship.
Otago finished third in the championship last season.
The first round of selections are automatic, based on seedings. Otago plays the fifth-placed team in the premiership, Waikato.
In the next round of picks, Otago got the fifth pick for a home game and picked Canterbury, ahead of Wellington and Auckland.
The third round of picks are made by the premiership teams, and Counties-Manukau, which finished fourth in the premiership, picked Otago, for a home game.
That could automatically become a Ranfurly Shield challenge, though when the game will be played is yet to be decided. It could be at the end of the season, which could mean a slim chance of a challenge.
The final selection of games will have Tasman host Otago. Otago got to pick the team it wished to play but it is an away game.
The competition will run for nine weeks, the same as this year, and will have Wednesday games.
Otago won the Ranfurly Shield last season, its first victory in 56 years, but only held it for nine days before losing it to Hawkes Bay.
The Magpies in turn lost it to Counties-Manukau, which held it for a couple of challenges, and will have the trophy over the summer.
The full draw will be released in February and the competition will start on August 14 next year.
