The move has partly been forced on the Otago coaches because of the injury to Brett Mather but it is one that has plenty of potential.
Bowden was touted as the star recruit of last summer but he has had an injury-plagued first year with the Highlanders and Otago, and when he has been on the field he has not always looked sharp.
In his recent absence, Chris Noakes has impressed with a cool head and an accurate boot.
This selection retains those attributes while adding Bowden's ability to spark an attack.
"I think it's exciting. It obviously gives us a dual kicking option at first- and second-five for a start," Otago assistant coach Bruce Carvell said yesterday.
"We're disappointed to lose Brett but it gives us an opportunity to try something else, and I think Bowden and Noakes will complement each other very nicely.
"It's actually quite an exciting combination.
"They're slightly different players but they both bring qualities to the backline that should keep the opposition guessing quite nicely."
Mather is a week-by-week proposition after injuring his ring finger in the loss to Hawkes Bay at Carisbrook last Friday.
The centre was seeing a specialist but the early indication was the injury was not as bad as first feared, Carvell said.
In other changes to the backline, Lucky Mulipola replaces Karne Hesketh on the right wing, Aaron Bancroft shifts from second five-eighth to centre, and veteran Toby Morland replaces Sean Romans at halfback.
The forward pack for the game in Mt Maunganui contains a solitary change, with Seko Qaraniqio resuming his season on the blindside flank following All Black Adam Thomson's cameo against Hawkes Bay.
Forwards coach Carvell believes the pack is developing well.
He has been particularly impressed with lock Ross Kennedy, the former All Black triallist who has been slow to find his feet in Otago.
"We've seen huge progress from Kennedy. He just continues to grow each week. Before last week, he hadn't missed a tackle, and he was high up in our tackle count."
Peter Mirrielees remains at hooker ahead of out-of-form Highlander Jason Macdonald.
The Otago coaches, though, are reluctant to say Macdonald has been dropped.
"The competition between Peter and Jason Macdonald is really healthy and we've got two good hookers," Carvell said.
"Peter came off the bench four times and Jason had four starts. It was prudent to give Peter a chance last week and he deserves another this week."
Otago has been in uninspiring form this season but remains in the top half of the Air New Zealand Cup and Carvell is buoyant about its prospects.
"We're nearly there. Hopefully it will all click at some stage soon and we'll turn opportunities into realities."
