Experienced loose forward James Lentjes and powerful prop Jermaine Ainsley will boost the pack.
The team was expected to be named yesterday, but the announcement was put back a day due to sickness in the camp.
Lentjes skipped the 50-5 win against Southland in Invercargill last week to give his shoulder another week to heal, while Ainsley was being rested following his Maori All Black duties.
Lentjes will be packed down at the back of the scrum in the No 8 position instead of his usual spot on the openside.
Coach Tom Donnelly was keen to give Sean Withy another run at openside and also to see what Lentjes could offer at No 8.
"James probably could have played last week, but we thought it was better to give Sean a real crack there and he did a really good job," Donnelly said.
"He gets another opportunity and Jimmy is going to play No 8 for us.
"It is a chance for us to see if that combination could work for us all season, really.
"Loose forwards have to have the ability to play in any position and, along with a number of combinations, this is one we want to look at."
Ainsley had an impressive Super Rugby season and was, in Donnelly’s opinion, unlucky not to receive an international call-up.
Donnelly was content with last week’s hit out against Southland. Former Wellington halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and former Waikato loose forward Rupeni Tamani fitted in well and shone considering their limited time with the team.
Winger Jona Nareki made a solid return after spending almost a year rehabbing a knee injury.
"He was just Jona. He did some really nice stuff, read the game really well and was in the right place at the right time.
"He certainly didn’t show any signs of nursing it [his knee]. He has probably been ready to go for a while now. But because of the timing of games and stuff, he hasn’t had an opportunity.
"His return to play protocol was 20 minutes last week and 40 minutes this week. Then he is available for full selection the week after."
That is just in time for Otago’s opening NPC game against Counties Manukau in Auckland on August 6.
