There are five forwards out due to head knocks, so University A loose forward Sione Teu has been brought into the team and will line up on the blindside flank in his debut at this level.
Teu is an abrasive forward, who has impressed in the past couple of years for his club side and will give Otago some options in carrying the ball.
Named on the bench is Dunedin loose forward Hame Toma, who also gets his chance to make his first-class debut after a good club season.
Otago coach Cory Brown said the new players deserved their spots and he was confident they would perform.
``The exciting thing out of the injuries is we get to put two new players out on the field and that has to be a positive for us,'' he said.
``The guys have been playing well for the Bs and that is why they are there. Sione is a big and physical and he carries the ball really well. Defensively, he can be pretty destructive,'' Brown said.
``Hame has had a couple of really good club seasons so gets his reward. He has done well under these new rules and cleans the rucks really well.''
Brown said the head injuries were unfortunate but none of them were the same and the side just had to accept it and get on with the job.
It was possible two or three of the players could be right for Sunday's match against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga but they could not be risked for the game against Northland.
Liam Coltman has been released from the All Blacks for the next two games and is starting tomorrow from the bench.
Brown said Coltman had missed some training sessions while with the All Blacks so it was best he made his return via the bench. Sam Anderson-Heather had played well for Otago in the win over Wellington so there was no need to rush Coltman back into the team.
Brown said when picking the side he had not taken into consideration the team was playing Bay of Plenty four days later.
Sio Tomkinson will get his first start for the season at second five-eighth and will team up with Matt Faddes in the midfield.
Fa'asiu Fuatai gets a start on the right wing teaming up with Michael Collins and Jack Wilson in the back three.
The Northland side includes former Otago back Peter Breen, who transferred north over the summer. Former Taieri lock Josh Larsen will make his starting debut for the side, having come off the bench in the first two games.
Highlanders loose forward Dan Pryor will not take the field. A knee injury forced him off in the last game against Auckland on Friday night.
Northland last won a game at this level in October 3, 2014.