First five-eighth Hayden Parker could play his first game for Otago since 2014 after being named on the bench.
With three games in 11 days and coming off a very physical win over Auckland last Thursday night, coach Cory Brown has been forced to look towards the game against Wellington in the capital on Sunday.
In the front row, hooker Sekonaia Pole gets a start while Sam Anderson-Heather, who has had a big workload, is moved to the bench.
Lock Josh Dickson comes back after a spell out with concussion and will partner Josh Furno in the second row.
The loose forward trio remains the same.
Dillon Hunt is still not cleared after a head knock picked up against Tasman on September 16.
Midfielders Tei Walden and Sio Tomkinson are both unavailable. Walden has a sore ankle while Tomkinson has picked up an infection in his head after a heavy collision in the game against Auckland.
Josh Ioane moves out one place to second five-eighth allowing Fletcher Smith to shift from fullback to first five-eighth.
Centre Josh Timu will make his starting debut for Otago after he got a few minutes off the bench against Hawkes Bay earlier this month.
Winger Mitchell Scott strained his hamstring at training yesterday and Late Vaeno comes into the starting side. Vilimoni Koroi starts at fullback.
Parker has had a bad run with injuries after a shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2015 season and knee injuries ruined his 2016 and 2017 seasons.
But some hard work over the past few months has got his knee right and he has been training fully over the past two weeks.
Brown has never actually coached Parker in his three seasons in charge and is looking forward to having Parker on the field.
The Otago side will be captained by openside flanker James Lentjes.
Northland is three points behind Otago in the championship standings with both sides having four games to play.
There is plenty to play for as five sides are chasing the semifinals spots in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship.
Former Otago utility back Peter Breen will start at first five-eighth for Northland which has a dangerous midfield in Rene Ranger and Jack Goodhue.