Otago coach Steve Martin said the trial in Alexandra this afternoon would, hopefully, bring forward some prospects who wanted to make the next step to provincial rugby.
He said there had been the usual withdrawal of players after they were injured over the weekend, but there would be some interesting clashes this afternoon.
Martin said much of the club play over the past month had been affected by wet weather and had made for some fairly dour forward struggles at times.
With snow forecast across much of the province, Martin was still confident the game would be played and a back-up plan had been arranged if the bus was not able to travel from Dunedin in the morning.
If it was impossible to get to Alexandra, the match would be transferred from Molyneux Park to Carisbrook.
There were positions open in the Otago side, especially in the back-up positions, Martin said.
Most Highlanders are not playing, along with first five-eighth Chris Noakes, who was a member of the Highlanders wider training squad.
There are some interesting match-ups, particularly Glenn Dickson and Sam Young at first five-eighth.
Michael Witt has a knee injury and is unavailable.
Eben Joubert and Carl Anderson will have a battle for the loose ball from openside flanker.
In the front row Keith Cameron, who will captain the Blue team, will face Ben Nolan, while University A prop Sam Hibbard, who is just back from injury, will face Alhambra-Union prop Dane Maraki.
Wakatipu No 8 Ben Blakely will oppose Taieri newcomer Charles O'Connell at the back of the scrum.
The back-up halfback option for Otago is now open after Toby Morland left to take up a contract with Munster.
Getting a chance today are Steve Bruce, from Pirates, who has played the last few seasons in Australia before moving to Dunedin this season, and James Kenny, from Lawrence, who will be behind the scrum in the Gold team.
Former league player Ryan Shortland is on the left wing for the Gold team.
Hooker Peter Mirrielees (hip) and Pirates fullback James Rosenberg (shoulder) are injured and will not play.
Lock Josh Townsend continues to recover from a foot injury.
Harbour inside back Dan Snee has left Dunedin for a contract with Sanyo in Japan.
He played two games for Otago last year.
He is playing for the same club as former Otago and All Black first five-eighth Tony Brown.
Lock Ross Kennedy, who played every game for Otago last year but did not once get on the reserves bench for the Highlanders this season, has returned to Wellington and will not be playing for Otago this season.
He was not offered an Otago contract.
