The ITM Cup draw was released yesterday and Otago will challenge Counties Manukau for the Log o' Wood exactly a year after the side dramatically wrested it from former holder Waikato.
Put August 23 in your calendar and make sure your camera's working.
The province waited 56 long years to get its hands on it again and only kept it for nine glorious days - a brief interlude when compared with the region's long angst.
Counties Manakau repelled three challenges in 2013 - Taranaki, Waikato and Southland - to secure the coverted prize for the summer.
Otago's ITM Championship campaign kicks off a week earlier against North Harbour in Dunedin.
Round three is the derby against Southland at Rugby Park in Invercargill.
That is typically a dire struggle in heavy underfoot conditions and it is a short turnaround for Otago, which will host Canterbury five days later on fast track under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Otago plays twice in week five, hosting Northland on Wednesday night and then playing Hawkes Bay at McLean Park on Sunday afternoon.
Two premiership sides - Waikato and Tasman - await in mid and late September.
The venue for the province's match against Bay of Plenty on October 4 has not been confirmed but Otago will complete the round-robin phase with a home game against Manawatu on October 10.
The semifinals are from October 17-19 with the Championship final on October 25 and the Premiership final the next day.
Otago was bundled out of the Championship semifinals by Hawkes Bay last season.
The Bay also took the Ranfurly Shield off the province six weeks earlier.
ITM Cup
Otago's games
North Harbour, Dunedin, August 16
Counties Manukau, Pukekohe, August 23*
Southland, Invercargill, August 30
Canterbury, Dunedin, September 4
Northland, Dunedin, September 10
Hawkes Bay, Napier, September 14
Waikato, Dunedin, September 21
Tasman, Nelson, September 28
Bay of Plenty, TBC, October 4
Manawatu, Dunedin, October 10
Semifinals, October 17-19
Finals, October 24-25
*Ranfurly Shield challenge
