The side has to play Counties-Manukau and Northland before then, both at home, but then have to venture north to Christchurch on October 30 to take on Canterbury.
Otago will have both openside flanker Slade McDowall and midfield back Sio Tomkinson back for that game.
Tomkinson will be coming off a six-week suspension while McDowall will have finished a three-week suspension.
McDowall was sent from the field in the match against Hawke’s Bay on October 4 and has been given a three-week suspension for a reckless tackle. He will be available for the game against Canterbury.
Dylan Nel filled in for Otago at the openside flank last week and had some strong moments.
In the same game against Hawke’s Bay, outside back Vilimoni Koroi picked up a yellow card for colliding with Hawke’s Bay replacement back Caleb Makene when chasing a kick.
But that yellow card had been rescinded as it was ruled another Hawke’s Bay player had made Makene lose balance.
Koroi played last week against Wellington and helped himself to two tries as Otago scored a late win.
With the two sides above it on the ladder playing each other tonight —Hawke’s Bay defending the Ranfurly Shield against Northland — and the two sides below Otago playing each other tomorrow — Southland hosting Taranaki — the match against Counties-Manukau on Sunday is shaping up as a key game for Otago in its promotion hopes.
Otago will welcome back hooker Liam Coltman and first five-eighth Josh Ioane from All Black training for the match.
The Counties-Manukau side has won just the one game so far this season, a narrow victory over Manawatu at Pukekohe a couple of weeks ago.