The North Otago Heartland squad will have an overseas warm-up before its first competition game against Mid Canterbury in Ashburton on August 27.
The squad will travel to Canada on July 30, a week after the Citizens Shield final.
Barry Stevens takes up his second year with North Otago and has been joined by South Cantabrian Nigel Walsh as co-coach.
Walsh has had plenty of experience with the Celtic club in Timaru and with the South Canterbury development team.
Stevens is looking towards a better season.
"The overall standard in club rugby has been much higher than it was last season. The club competition has been a lot closer even though Old Boys might be a few points out in front. There have been some real fights going on between the likes of Maheno and Kurow and Valley and Athletic Marist to get into those semifinal spots,'' Stevens said.
"The competition is certainly stronger and the skill level is much higher than at this time last season. We're still working on fitness. We've got guys training on Monday nights and we're going to start some Wednesday night stuff shortly.
"It's always something that we can improve upon. The game is getting faster and, with the changes to the points system in this year's Heartland, we believe we'll have to be fitter.''
"I think we're developing in our execution of skills but it's the basic skills, like the ability to draw and pass, the tackling technique and the cleaning out technique that need to be improved.
"I feel guys are getting there and trying harder. I feel we don't spend sufficient time on those basic skills, especially when we are under pressure.
''Vision is a word much used in rugby today and it is essential players, especially in key positions, have it.
"Obviously, halfback is an area where we're very strong, as we've got some pretty good halfbacks running around. Ten is an area, with Ben Palmer back in England, that we are looking to fill but we've got some experienced guys at second five, centre, wings and fullback. Everybody has got to have that vision these days. Everybody has got to take responsibility for what is happening in front of them.''
North Otago has several new players from England and loan players will again be used to add quality to the side.
"Ten is an area that we're negotiating with at the moment. Again, I think we could do with some assistance in midfield and at the moment we are still in talks with Sam Sturgess, who played last season, plus possibly another loose forward, with the injury to Filipo Veamatahau.
"We've sort of tried to let the clubs do their own thing up to the semifinals and finals but we've got a skills squad training on Monday nights. We won't have any games before we head to Canada.''
In the Heartland draw, teams play only eight of the 11 opponents in the competition.
North Otago will not play Wanganui, Poverty Bay or Buller this year.
"Last year was last year and form does not necessarily carry over to the following season. We've got to go into the competition with our eyes wide open and every game is going to be a challenge. We will be playing against Horowhenua-Kapiti at the stadium, so that will be exciting for the boys. We've got a tough one to start, against Mid Canterbury straight off our return from Canada.''
The 12th round of Citizens Shield matches will be played tomorrow and the Old Boys-Kurow clash is the feature game of the round.
Kurow is nine points behind Old Boys, which is assured of a semifinal berth with four rounds remaining but, after Old Boys defaulted to Kurow in the second round on Kurow's big rugby day, the boys from up country have a point to prove.
Fourth-placed Athletic Marist will travel to the Maheno Domain to play third-placed Maheno while at Weston, Valley and Excelsior, the two bottom teams, will play for pride only.
- Terry O'Neill
