Otago has a tough first-up game at the national under-19 tournament in Taupo on Sunday.
The draw has been released for the Jock Hobbs Memorial national under-19 tournament and Otago will take on Waikato late on Sunday afternoon.
Otago lost out on being a top seed for the inaugural tournament when it lost 27-22 to Canterbury at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Saturday.
But it still made the top eight and will be joined in that section by Canterbury, Wellington, Auckland A, Waikato, Taranaki, North Harbour and Bay of Plenty.
The tournament takes in 16 teams, with a team from every ITM Cup union, a team made up of players from Heartland unions and a second team from Auckland.
North Otago prop Sione Palaa has been named in the Heartland squad for the tournament.
The Heartland team will take on Tasman in its first game on Sunday.
Games will also be played on October 1 and the final matches are on October 4. Some games will be televised but Otago's game on Sunday will not be broadcast.
