New Otago coach Cory Brown has picked two new loose forwards - blindside flanker Adam Knight and No 8 Mike Mafi - while University A first five-eighth Fletcher Smith will also get his first start at this level.
Halfback Kaide Whiting will make his debut for Otago after having previously played for Tasman, as will winger Jack Wilson, who has previously played for Bay of Plenty and sides in England and South Africa.
There are only four players who started for Otago in its last match of 2014 - a loss to Manawatu.
Halfback Josh Renton is nursing an ankle sprain he got in the warm-up match against Southland last week and may miss a couple of weeks.
Lock Joe Latta suffered a hairline fracture of his eye socket in the Southland game and could be out for up to four weeks.
Fellow lock Blair Tweed suffered a concussion in that match and although he has been given the all-clear, Brown has gone with Jackson Hemopo and Josh Dickson as his two locks.
Josh Walden, the older brother of second five-eighth Tei Walden, comes into the side as the halfback reserve and will make his first-class debut if he gets on the field.
Craig Millar starts at loosehead prop, having missed all of last year with a shoulder injury.
Brown said there were a couple of tricky selections, including at first five-eighth, where he has picked Smith ahead of the experienced Peter Breen, who is in the reserves.
Last year's captain, Charlie O'Connell, is in the reserves and will cover the second row.
The Canterbury side has a good batch of Super rugby players and the likes of All Black flanker Matt Todd and Highlanders winger Patrick Osborne.
Otago v Canterbury
FB Stadium, tomorrow, 4.35pm
Otago: Tony Ensor, Matt Faddes, Jayden Spence, Tei Walden, Jack Wilson, Fletcher Smith, Kaide Whiting, Mika Mafi, James Lentjes, Adam Knight, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Hisa Sasagi, Liam Coltman (captain), Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Donald Brighouse, Scott Manson, Charlie O'Connell, Ratu Dawai, Josh Walden, Peter Breen, Michael Collins.
Canterbury: Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Jack Goodhue, Rob Thompson, Patrick Osborne, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Luke Whitelock (captain), Matt Todd, Reed Prinsep, Dominic Bird, JJ Manning, Siate Tokolahi, Ben Funnell, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Nick Werahiko, Alex Hosgman, Sione Faletau, Tom Sanders, Mitchell Dunshea, Jack Stratton, Milford Keresoma, Marshall Suckling.
