The first Hawke Cup elimination game will be played in Oamaru this weekend when the home side meets South Canterbury in a two-day match.
North Otago has had two warm-up games, losing to South Canterbury in a rain-affected one-dayer and beating Mid Canterbury comfortably last weekend.
Former North Otago batsman Chris Cunningham, who has spent the past decade in Melbourne, has returned and will open the innings with Union's Jeremiah Shields.
Stephan Grobler, a South African batsman and right-arm legspinner, will bat at No 3, with Sean Eathorne making a return to the side.
Veteran batsman Duncan Drew is at No 5, with promising St Kevin's College all-rounder Tim O'Malley at No 6.
Offspinner Jordan Horrell makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tim McCormick, player-coach at St Kevin's.
Darcy Hooper-Smith is the wicketkeeper, with strike bowlers David Sewell and Chris Ware completing the XI.
Ware's performance against Mid Canterbury off a shortened run produced greater accuracy without any reduction in pace.
The 12th man is Anthony Sewell, younger brother of David, earning a place after a solid batting performance against Mid Canterbury.
Hawke Cup cricket
Oamaru, today and tomorrow
North Otago: Jeremiah Shields, Chris Cunningham, Stephan Grobler, Sean Eathorne, Duncan Drew, Tim O'Malley, Jordan Horrell, Tim McCormick, Darcy Hooper-Smith, David Sewell, Chris Ware, Anthony Sewell (12th man).
South Canterbury: Richie Preston, Bill Walsh, Jeremy Liddy, Craig Davies, Dan Laming, Ben McCord, Ede Kilbee, Mark Tutton, Sam Carlaw, Tahir Afridi, Glenn Matthews, Daniel Dorgan, Ben Watson (two to be omitted).
Other games-
Dec 17-18: Southland v Otago Country (Invercargill)
Jan 14-15: Otago Country v North Otago(Alexandra)
Jan 28-29: North Otago v Southland (Oamaru), Otago Country v Mid Canterbury (Alexandra)
Feb 4-5: Southland v South Canterbury (Invercargill)
Feb 11-12: Mid Canterbury v North Otago (Ashburton)
Feb 18-19: South Canterbury v Mid Canterbury (Timaru)
Feb 25-26: Mid Canterbury v Southland (Ashburton), South Canterbury v Otago Country (Timaru)
- Terry O'Neill
