Hooker and captain Sam Anderson-Heather remains in the side but he will have green players either side of him.
Tom Hill, who made his Otago starting debut last week in the win over Southland, will again start on the loosehead side. Aki Seiuli started the first four games of the season before suffering a serious knee injury against Northland on September 7.
Donald Brighouse had recovered from a head knock experienced in Invercargill but will miss the game because of family reasons. His usual replacement, Hisa Sasagi, has picked up a knee injury, damaging his medial collateral ligament in the game in Invercargill last week.
Sasagi may be back next week though that depends on progress over the next few days.
Harbour prop Giorgio Bower comes into the team and will start the match.
Bower, who has played for Harbour for a few years, is a player of promise. He made his debut for Otago in 2014, coming on against Northland, and came off the bench last year in the loss to North Harbour.
He has been training with Otago this season.
It is a big ask for Bower who will have to lock horns with a sure-to-be-aggressive Canterbury front row.
University prop and Otago B Angus Williams comes on to the bench. He is an accomplished club player but has yet to play at first-class level.
Tom Rowe will start at lock with Sione Misiloi moving to the bench.
Slade McDowall will start on the openside flank with Naulia Dawai moved to the blindside flank. Loose forward Joketani Koroi has some concussion symptoms and will not be risked.
That elevates Dunedin loose forward Hame Toma into the reserves. Toma made his one and only appearance for Otago in 2016, coming off the bench against Northland at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Otago coach Ben Herring said Toma earned his spot on the reserves bench after an impressive game for Otago B last week and a good club season.
The backline remains the same after it played well against Southland last week.
Herring said yesterday with the side away to Auckland followed by its midweek game, selection was viewed over games, not putting games in isolation.
Canterbury is due to name its side this afternoon.
Otago team v Canterbury
Michael Collins, Mitchell Scott, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Kurt Hammer, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Naulia Dawai, Josh Dickson, Tom Rowe, Giorgio Bower, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Tom Hill. Reserves: Sekonaia Pole, Jonah Aoina, Angus Williams, Sione Misiloi, Hame Toma, Melani Matavao, Matt Whaanga, Vilimoni Koroi