The side is travelling to Alexandra for a three-day camp which will end with a warm-up game against Southland on Friday afternoon, at Molyneux Park.
The whole squad, including the side's four Highlanders - Tom Franklin, Liam Coltman, Hayden Parker and Trent Renata - will make the trip to Central Otago where the focus will be firmly centred on rugby.
The past couple of years the side has journeyed to the Catlins but it decided to head inland this year and will be based in Alexandra.
Otago coach Tony Brown said the trip would be a good way for the team to get away and get to know each other.
''We can get the whole squad away, get them together to get ready for the season,'' he said.
The side will train for two days in Alexandra before meeting a full-strength Southland side, which will be carrying some baggage after being beaten by Heartland Championships side Mid Canterbury in Oamaru last Saturday.
One thing Brown can be thankful for leading into the season is that his squad is relatively injury-free.
The only injury concerns centre around prop Scott Manson and loose forward TJ Ioane.
Manson injured his neck about four weeks ago and has not played any rugby since.
However, he is almost right and could play some limited minutes on Friday, although that depends on how he gets through training.
Manson has had a tough run with injuries over the past 18 months. He badly injured his ankle in the 2012 season and then had complications when a plate was removed from his ankle last year.
He then damaged a retina when fingered in the eye and missed a large part of this year's club season.
His experience will be needed by the Otago side, as veteran prop Tama Tuirirangi is not playing for the blue and golds this season.
Ioane is battling an ankle complaint which he has had for some time. It ruined the latter part of the Highlanders' season for him when he failed to get on the park and he is struggling to get through a game.
His ability to get over the gain line and put Otago on the front foot has been a real plus for the side in the past couple of seasons so the coaching team will be keen to get him match fit.
Brown said yesterday Ioane was a 50-50 chance to play the first game of the ITM Cup.
Hooker Sam Anderson-Heather, who left the field last Saturday against Tasman with an injured wrist, has been cleared of any serious injury.
The side will visit schools in the district while travelling to Alexandra today and will then go out to family homes on Thursday night to dine with the locals.
The Southland side is in camp at Colac Bay and will head to Alexandra wanting to find some form after the disappointing loss to Mid Canterbury.
Southland plays Taranaki in its opening ITM Cup game on August 15, in Invercargill, and Otago will host North Harbour at Forsyth Barr Stadium the following day.
