With only four points separating the teams ranked fourth to 11th, North Otago's home game against Buller assumes real importance.
North Otago will have a couple of hard games to finish, playing second-placed South Canterbury in Timaru the following week and then host competition leader Mid Canterbury in Oamaru in the final round.
Buller, with 10 points and third from the bottom of the table, plays Thames Valley in Westport next week and in week eight travels to Levin to play Horowhenua-Kapiti, at present in fourth place.
Buller had a great season last year when it dropped only one game, in the Meads Cup final to Mid Canterbury. In the previous three years, it made the Lochore Cup final in 2013 and 2012 and the Lochore Cup semifinal in 2011.
This season Buller has had mixed fortunes, registering wins over King Country (32-20) and Poverty Bay (36-14) and losing to West Coast (21-6), Wairarapa-Bush (14-13) and Wanganui (35-9).
North Otago has been further hit by injuries. Fullback Oscar Pamment was injured at training and centre Nathan Cargo's arm injury will keep him out.
Waitaki Boys' High School three-quarter Pilui Tavaki, who has been training with the squad, comes in on the right wing, with Sala Halalevba moving into centre and Lemi Masoe going to fullback.
Prop Meli Kolinisau and flanker Filipo Veamatahau are in the North Island at the Jock Hobbs under-19 tournament and will miss the South Canterbury game as well.
Consequently, Valley prop Rob Mafileo comes into the reserves and Jake Greenslade has been promoted from the development team to cover the loose forwards.
• Terry O'Neill
North Otago v Buller
Whitestone Contracting Stadium, today, 2.30pm
North Otago: Lemi Masoe, Pilui Tavaki, Sala Halaleva, Aleki Morris, Sale Pi'i, Ben Palmer, Inoke Naufahu, Samisoni Tongotongo, Matt Duff, Maene Mapusaga, Taua Limuloa, John Kelly, Palenapa Mafi, Sam Sturgess, Ralph Darling (captain). Reserves: Sione Palaa, Rob Mafileo, Jared Whitburn, Jake Greenslade, Kilifi Fangupo, Jason Forrest, Seti Talalelei.
Buller: Iliesa Ravudra, Mitieli Kaloudigibeci, Scott Neighbours, Penijamini Nabainivalu, Setefano Sauqaqa, Jesse Elley, Andrew Stephens, Jale Masi, Luke Brownlee, Blair McIlroy, Tai Ratu, Craig Moore, Philip Beveridge (captain), Anthony Ellis, Logan Mundy. Reserves: Glen Duncan, Stephen Crackett, Marc Crackett, Paul Clarkson, Simon Abel, Thor Manawatu, John Noble.
