As Otago begins its preparations for its first Ranfurly Shield challenge for three years, a quick look over the playing records shows it cannot count on much experience for the game.
In 2013, the Otago side managed to end a 56-year drought and win the Log o' Wood against Waikato, taking the trophy with a 26-19 win over the Mooloos in Hamilton.
But of the 15 players who started the game for Otago that night only one - prop Craig Millar - is still a member of the Otago squad.
And he is likely to start on the bench on Sunday when the side heads to Christchurch to take on Canterbury.
The other 14 players who started the game in Hamilton have all moved on.
Tony Ensor, Fa'asiu Fuata'i, Paul Grant, Fumiaki Tanaka, Kieran Moffat and Scott Manson are all playing overseas.
Peter Breen, Gareth Evans and Tom Franklin are playing for other provinces in New Zealand.
Michael Collins, Hayden Parker and Liam Coltman are injured, while Lee Allan has retired.
Now assistant coach of the Otago team, Tom Donnelly locked the scrum for Otago that night with Franklin. His experience on how to approach a shield challenge will be invaluable this week.
The side that night was coached by Tony Brown, assisted by Phil Young, neither whom is involved with the Otago team any more.
Of the 14 players who have moved on and those that are still playing, only one of them is over 30 - Tanaka - showing the mobility of the modern rugby player and the relatively young age players leave to head overseas or move to other provinces for opportunity.
The side lost the shield in its first defence against Hawkes Bay nine days after beating Waikato.
Otago had two unsuccessful challenges the following year, losing a close game to Counties-Manukau and then being thumped by Hawkes Bay.
The Otago side last played Canterbury in a shield challenge in 2009 when it lost 36-16.
