Coach Ben Gallie wants to maintain the momentum Otago teams have created in recent years when the national men's interprovincial starts on the Poverty Bay Club's course in Gisborne this morning.
"We finished fourth last year and fifth in 2009, while our masters [over-40] team came third three weeks ago," he said.
Gallie said a good start was essential against Tasman this morning and Aorangi and Waikato tomorrow, as the standard should be higher later in the week.
He was pleased with the firm and windy conditions which could suit the Otago quintet who have become great fighters when the going gets tough.
In the practice round, the players, under Gallie's guidance, spent much time on the greens concentrating on the effect of grain and speed on putts.
"They must play the man and not the course and they each have a game plan allowing them to play to their strengths," Gallie said.
Otago made the semifinals last year with three wins and a half on a countback of games over Taranaki and Tasman but exited on the Saturday morning.
The experience of Brent McEwan (No 1) and Andrew Hobbs (No 2) will be vital for Otago's fortunes while Tyrone Ratahi at No 3 has been a form match player in recent weeks.
Team reserve Simon Hollyer will start this morning in place of Mitch Bosley at No 5 and is likely to get another chance at the expense of No 4 Chris Snow later in the week.
Because of the good placing last year, Otago has an early bye and is likely to trail on the scoreboard during the first three days.
The team will follow its first three rounds meeting Bay of Plenty on Thursday morning, and Southland and North Harbour on Friday.
The strongest opposition should come from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury and Wellington and, on paper, Otago has a good draw meeting only one of these teams.
Southland has every chance of featuring on the linksland course after pipping Otago in the South Island event at Otatara three weeks ago.
But Southland No 1 Vaughan McCall will miss the first two games as he is returning from Argentina with the New Zealand team and will be replaced by reserve Tyler McLean, who will play at No 5.
