There will be some friendly fire in Cromwell this afternoon.
Otago Blue will play Otago Gold in an internal trial and there are spots in the starting lineup at stake.
The Blue team is very much the shadow Otago side.
Highlanders first five Cameron Millar, who missed the 40-31 win against Southland in Dunedin last week, returns from a slight niggle and will be charged with driving the team around the paddock.
He will team up with halfback Nathan Hastie, while Sam Gilbert shifts from first five to fullback.
Otago has beefed up their front row with Super Rugby players Saula Ma’u, Henry Bell and Abraham Pole, while loose forward trio Konrad Toleafoa, Harry Taylor and Will Stodart get another opportunity to impress.
Kaikorai captain Lucas Casey will provide loose forward cover from the bench and former Otago and North Otago utility forward Charles Elton has been named on the bench, having recently returned from the United States, where he played for Seattle in Major League Rugby.
There will be interest in how the Gold team performs.
Harbour first five Rique Miln has been named at pivot and he is sure to get a run for Otago at some stage during the season if he acquits himself well.
Slade McDowall will start on the openside for Gold and he is fresh from a strong club season for Kaikorai.
He scored two tries in the final to help his club claim the title.
Otago’s locking stocks look thin, so there will be interest in how Reuben Palmer performs and how Eric Peita bounces back from a disappointing performance against Southland.
The format is for two 30-minute halves.
Everyone is expected to get a run.
