The Sassenachs side has some promising youngsters in its ranks mixed in with a core of experience and will want to set a benchmark for Otago in its pre-season.
It is a big match for the Sassenachs club, which lost one of its founding members in Ray Bell this week.
Bell, a former Otago and All Black outside back of the 1940s and early 1950s, died on Tuesday, aged 90.
The Sassenachs team will wear black armbands in a mark of respect for Bell and Sassenachs member Fred Daniel will meet the team today to talk about the club and its origins.
Otago coach Cory Brown said the game would be a good chance for players to show their wares and also play at a faster pace and higher level than at club play.
There were a few combinations to be looked at and he would have an eye on some players who had impressed at club play and see whether they could take the next step up.
"It is an opportunity for guys to put their hands up and put out on the park what we have been doing at practice,'' Brown said.
Brown said he had given some under-19 players a run to see how they performed.
Southern backs Hemaua Semasoni and Josh Buchan and University midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen should get a run.
Players from today's club final between Dunedin and Kaikorai are unavailable for the match, as are many of Otago's Super rugby players.
Brown said he had been in contact with the Highlanderscoaches and they were keen to give players not playing in Canberra last night a run.
So James Lentjes, Jack Wilson, Craig Miller and Sio Tomkinson are involved.
Brown said Otago's Super rugby players should be available for the first game of the Mitre 10 Cup against Southland but when they became available depended on how far the Highlanders went in the playoffs.
At the latest, players would start training with Otago on August 15 but it could be earlier depending on the destiny of the Highlanders.
The only players unavailable for the match because of injury are lock Josh Dickson, who has bruising on the knee, while winger Gavin Stark has damaged ribs.
Neither injury should keep the players out for any length of time.
Michael Collins and Sio Tomkinson will link up in midfield for the Sassenachs, while Taieri outside back Mitchell Scott starts at fullback.
Josh Ioane and Josh Casey will share the duties at first five-eighth.
Up front, Zingari-Richmond forward Tom Rowe gets a start at lock and a chance to impress.
Otago does not have huge depth at lock and Rowe has good ability in the air.
The Spartans will have some players who have just been named in a new-look Southland side.
Southland also does not have any players available from its club final between Eastern Barbarians and Woodlands and has named former Otago loose forward Mika Mafi at No8.
Both sides are expected to make a raft of changes at halftime.
Otago will play Southland in a warm-up match in Queenstown on August 11 and the two sides will clash in Invercargill 10 days later in the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup.
Sassenachs v Spartans
University Oval, tomorrow, 2.30pm
Sassenachs: Mitchell Scott, Fa'asui Fuitai, Michael Collins, Sio Tomkinson, Jack Wilson, Josh Ioane, Josh Walden (captain), Sione Teu, James Lentjes, Adam Knight, Sione Misoli, Tom Rowe, Mike Mata'afa, Sam Sturgess, Craig Miller. Reserves: Angus Williams, Sekonaia Pole, George Bower, Dillon Hunt, Ben Whale, Kyle Harris, Charles Elton, Jonathon Ruru, Josh Casey, Hemaua Semasoni, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Gordon, Josh Buchan
Spartans: Junior Ngaluafe, Mike Molloy, Dylan Collier, James Schrader, Keanu Kahukura, D'Angelo Leiuila, Ben Brown, Mika Mafi, Phil Halder, Wade McRae, Ben Fotheringham, Tepasu Thomas, Reuben Northover, Ezekiel Sopoaga, Shaun Stodart. Reserves: Josh Leith, George Tuineau, Ben Soper, Jack Capil, Anton Huisman, Josh Brazier, Jaye Thomson Te Muunu, Tino Mafoe, Greg Dyer.
