A group of 16 young players will head to Northern Ireland later next month to play in one of the top youth football tournaments in the world, the Milk Cup.
Their campaign will begin in Manchester, where they will face up against the youth contingent of premiership sides Manchester City and Stoke City.
''[In Otago] we haven't been able to play the same quality of the teams we will be facing up against at the Milk Cup, so this will be a great way to start the tour,'' team manager Matt Scoles said.
''The games will be trials, effectively.''
After a week of training and playing in England, they will head over to Northern Ireland for the tournament.
Otago has been drawn up against CSKA Moscow, Bohemian FC and Gold Coast United. Moscow is the defending champion of the Russian Premier League, so its youth team promises to be very strong.
''Our goal is to win every time we play. We're always going to be up against it, but we believe that we can win, so why not?''
A major reason behind the initiative started by Clark Walker 12 years ago, is to give exposure to young talented Otago footballers.
The tournament will be teeming with professional scouts, so the potential upside of a successful campaign could be huge for the players.
''At the end of the day, if some of our guys have good games against a good team, in front of the right people, things could really change for them.''
''Every top European club will have scouts there.''
The players have been training together since last December.
In preparation they have been doing three days a week of conditioning, with practices on Sundays.
''We have been running it like an academy, with everybody practising and playing with their respective teams and then coming to us to supplement their skills and fitness.''
''We have a very talented and well coached group of players. I can definitely see us making waves at the cup.''
- Leni Ma'ia'i
