Despite winning the last three tournaments in convincing style, the top five have been below par in the last two tournaments.
The leading quintet have not outscored their opponents since beating Aorangi 3 to 2 and Southland 3.5 to 1.5 at Jacks Point near Queenstown three years ago.
In 2010, Otago's top five lost to Aorangi 2 to 3 while the 10-strong team won by 5.5 to 4.5. Against Southland, the top five drew 2.5-all with the full team winning by a three-game margin.
Last year, Otago beat Aorangi by an impressive 7 to 3 margin and drew with Southland but the top five lost by 2 to 3 margins.
It is the top five who will be on the line playing at home in the national interprovincial at Balmacewen on December 4 to 8, and they need to perform well today and in the South Island interprovincial on November 3 and 4.
Local knowledge should give Otago an edge but a strong Southland team, buoyed by its success in Gisborne last year, will be no pushover.
The Southland players are very familiar with the hilly Balmacewen course, with No 2 Liam Balneaves holding the course record at 9-under 62.
They have some in-form players as Matt Tautari can manage being selected at only No 5 after winning all eight games and being named player of the tournament in the interprovincial at Gisborne last year.
Otago's Brent McEwan and Michael Smith played well to be selected at Nos 1 and 2 respectively, but all of Otago's middle order will need to compete well to cement their places.
As well as the senior event, the Otago masters (over-40) and under-21 teams will compete against their nearest neighbours.
