Fringe players have got one last chance to impress Otago coach Cory Brown before he unveils his team for the ITM Cup.
The Sassenachs play the Spartans, a shadow Southland team, in their second preseason match at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.
Brown will name the final Otago squad next week, with his team's season opener against Canterbury in Dunedin just three weeks away.
Only six starters have been retained from the Sassenachs' 41-15 win over Mid Canterbury at the University Oval a couple of weeks ago, with nine players from losing club semifinalists Harbour and Southern included in the squad.
''That was always going to be the plan. Those losing semifinalists were going to be picked and given an opportunity,'' Brown said.
Varsity A and Taieri players involved in today's final were not considered for tomorrow's match.
Prop and captain Craig Millar, lock Blair Tweed, flanker Theo Commissaris, first five Peter Breen, centre Jayden Spence and fullback Tony Ensor are the only starters from the Mid Canterbury game who have again been named to start.
Southern midfielder Tei Walden will start at second five-eighth, pushing Spence to centre.
Walden will also cover first five-eighth, with Harbour pivot Sio Tomkinson ruled out with a reoccurring groin injury, which has been ''playing up a bit''.
Tomkinson missed much of the first part of the club season with the injury, but the decision to rest him is a precautionary one.
Brown has also given flanker Jackson Hemopo the week off.
''He's had a pretty hefty club season, so we're just looking at monitoring him at the moment,'' Brown said.
''But [prop] Scott Manson is getting a shot. He's been out for a long time. He played 80 minutes last week, so he will get another shot this week.''
Josh Renton will start at halfback, but Harbour halfback Tala Fagasoaia is expected to get an opportunity to continue his good club form.
''Tala had an outstanding semifinal in a losing team,'' Brown said.
''I thought he was excellent - probably the best game I have seen him play. So he gets an opportunity because of that form.''
Harbour team-mates Aleki Morris and Jerome Harimate have also been named on the extended bench.
While the squad has had little time to gel, Brown wants to see the team implement the attacking and defensive structures it has been working on at training.
Otago will play preseason games against Tasman in Dunedin next Saturday and Southland in Riverton on August 5.
Sassenachs v Spartans
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, 2pm
Sassenachs: Tony Ensor, Josh Gordon, Jayden Spence, Tei Walden, Jack Wilson, Peter Breen, Josh Renton, Mika Mafi, Theo Commissaris, Adam Knight, Joe Latta, Blair Tweed, Scott Manson, Sekonaia T-Pole, Craig Millar. Reserves: Mike Mata'afa, Tom Hardy, Joe Weatherall, Donald Brighouse, Ben Tuiomanufili, Josh Clark, Tala Fagasoaia, Lachie Moore, Jerome Harimate, Aleki Morris, Sean Conner.
Spartans: Jamie Verran, Mike Molloy, James Schrader, Willis Halaholo, Keanu Kahukura, Ash Moeke, Scott Eade, Bill Fukofuka, Jordan Stewart, Alex Taylor, Mike McKee, Joel Everson, Morgan Mitchell, Dillan Halaholo, Reuben Northover. Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Crawford, George Tuineau, Jack Falloon, Phil Halder, Liam Howley, WJ Strydom, Lolo Loco, Junior Ngaluafe.
