Having dominated the triangular against Aorangi and Southland in Cromwell last month, the team will now face a favoured Canterbury octet as well as a very strong Tasman team.
The eight players who will compete for Otago this weekend notched 13 wins and only three losses in the triangular but that 80% record will be a tough target in this event.
This event doubles as the final trial before selection convener Greg Johnson names the five players and travelling reserve to play in the national event on the North Shore in December.
Brent McEwan (St Clair) is guaranteed the No 1 spot and captaincy after beating New Zealand No 1 Vaughan McCall (Southland) in a tight tussle at Cromwell.
After returning from overseas, Mark Brooks (Queenstown) is a more mature golfer and looks to be in line for the No 2 slot.
But after that, all six remaining players are in with a chance depending on their performances and records this weekend.
All going well, Nick Borren (Otago), who has also recently returned from Europe, has the inside running at No 3.
Jamie Anstiss (Otago) suffered two losses at Cromwell and has been dropped from the No 2 position down to No 4, which may be a more realistic place for the 18-year-old on debut.
At No 5 is Sean Masters (Otago), who is studying at the University of Otago and flew down from Auckland for this event.
Masters (18) will not be a newcomer to the national interprovincial, as he has played in two tournaments for Northland.
Masters has an array of useful shots which gave him two wins at Cromwell and a semifinal berth in the Otago championships at Labour Weekend.
Although he won the Otago matchplay title in style three weeks ago, Kayne Wardell (Queenstown) still has some work to do to make the team, as he is placed at No 6 this weekend.
Brandon Hodgson played at No 5 in the triangular but has been dropped to No 7 after a disastrous performance when he failed to qualify for the senior field at Balmacewen.
Hodgson was a member of the team at Balmacewen last year and with four good wins could make his way back, depending on the performances of others.
Chris Snow (St Clair) played in the top five in the national interprovincial at Gisborne two years ago but might find it tough to make this year's team from No 8.
