A preseason clash with Southland at the University Oval will be Brown’s only meaningful opportunity to assess his squad before the rivals clash again in the NPC opener on Stag Day in Invercargill on August 2.
He has named both his new imports, Fijian Drua lock Joseva Tamani and English winger Charlie Powell, in the Otago starting XV.
Tamani is joined at lock by Taieri beanpole Eric Peita, who is not in the NPC but gets an opportunity to show what he can do if a spare lock, as expected, is needed at some stage.
Zingari-Richmond hooker A-One Lolofie will make his debut and is joined by young Highlanders prop Rohan Wingham and Ben Lopas.
With Christian Lio-Willie in camp with the All Blacks, rising Southern No8 Konrad Toleafoa starts at the back of the scrum with clubmate Harry Taylor at openside and Highlanders rookie Will Stodart at blindside.
Bob Martin plugged away for Taieri for some time without cracking the Otago squad but he will start at halfback with Nathan Hastie on deck for Harbour in the Dunedin club final and Dylan Pledger preparing for the world under-20 final with the Baby Blacks.
Outside him, the versatile Sam Gilbert will start at first five, and there is a powerful midfield in the form of Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Josh Timu.
A very new outside back combination has Powell, who played for Southland last year, joined by Dunedin winger Kyan Rangitutia and exciting Green Island fullback Sam Nemec-Vial.
The reserves bench includes mostly well-performed club players including rising flanker Max Ratcliffe, Southern spark Mackenzie Palmer and Green Island’s MacEwan brothers, Heath and Christian.
An unexpected addition is Jae Broomfield, the New Zealand Universities vice-captain who has come south to try his luck after struggling to break into the Canterbury squad.
Henry Bell and Lucas Casey are on duty for Kaikorai in the club final, Finn Hurley, Jona Nareki, Oliver Haig, Jake Te Hiwi and Josh Whaanga are injured, and leading first five Cameron Millar is not being risked as he has a minor niggle.
The Stags have named former Otago utility Sam Fischli at openside, and Irish recruit Cian Hurley.
Highlanders winger Michael Manson features in a talented backline that features former Highlander Scott Gregory, back from Italy, and a fine midfield combination of Matt Whaanga and Isaac Te Tamaki.
