Mooney named a 26-man squad, with plenty of experience and some new faces, for the ITM Cup last night.
The new faces include Auckland prop Halani Aulika, from the Otahuhu club, who has been drafted into the Otago side and will arrive in Dunedin today.
Otago has been hard hit with injuries to front row contenders, with Harbour prop Ben Nolan the latest casualty. Nolan, who was brought back from Australia earlier this year to play for Otago, injured his knee in a club game two weeks ago and will have to undergo a full knee reconstruction. He had just recovered from a broken wrist.
He joins fellow prop Keith Cameron (shoulder) on the sideline, while hookers Jason Macdonald (Achilles) and Sam Anderson-Heather (broken leg) are also out, though Anderson-Heather may get back on to the field near the end of the season.
Other features of the 26-player squad include eight players from the champion University A side and the selection of New Zealand colt Liam Coltman.
Coltman (20) had played most of his rugby before this year at prop but was picked for the national age group side at hooker and it is there he will play for Otago, though the experienced Peter Mirrielees will start the season as first choice.
Mooney said Aulika (26) had good credentials, having been the club player of the year in Auckland club rugby last year.
"We have rewarded some guys with their performances in club rugby, guys like Paula Kinikinilau and Charlie O'Connell," Mooney said.
"They have put their hands up with the way they have played."
He said the coaches would be striving "to get quite good internal competition within the squad".
"That can only bring out the best in people."
He said the Otago B squad would be announced shortly and coaches Andy Hunter and Mike Moeahu would be working with the senior Otago side to ensure Otago B players were ready to step up and play for the Otago side, if needed.
Players unlucky not to make the squad are Alhambra-Union hooker Ben Pereira, Heriot prop Blair Young, and Kaikorai halfback Tomasi Palu. Pirates outside backs Marshall Suckling and Jeremy Cave must also be considered unlucky to miss out, while University player Brad Cameron has been crowded out by a glut of loose forwards.
The side has a lot of experience in the forwards with the likes of lock Hayden Triggs, prop Kees Meeuws, and skipper Alando Soakai. Former All Black Adam Thomson will be a key player, as will centre Ben Smith.
There are only six current Highlanders in the team.
Otago takes on Counties-Manukau in its opening ITM Cup next Saturday.
The new caps are: University A lock Josh Townsend, Coltman, Anderson-Heather, Kinikinilau, and imported players Aulika, midfield back Josh Tatupu, winger Joe Hill, outside back Chris Small.
OTAGO SQUAD FOR ITM CUP
• Forwards: Peter Mirrielees (Harbour), Liam Coltman (Alhambra-Union), Kees Meeuws (Southern), Sam Hibbard (University), Halani Aulika (Otahuhu), Hayden Triggs (Green Island), Seko Kalou (Kaikorai), Josh Townsend (University A), Hoani Matenga (University A), Adam Thomson (University A), Eben Joubert (Harbour), Alando Soakai (Kaikorai, captain), Charlie O'Connell (Taieri), Paul Grant (University A)
• Backs: Johnny Legg (Harbour), Sean Romans (University A), Glenn Dickson (Pirates), Chris Noakes (University A), Josh Tatupu (Western Force), Ben Smith (Green Island), Andrew Parata (University A), Joe Hill (Southern), Ryan Shortland (Taieri), Fetu'u Vainikolo (Kaikorai), Chris Small (Christchurch HSOB), Paula Kinikinilau (Alhambra-Union)
• Unavailable through injury: Jason Macdonald (Taieri), Sam Anderson-Heather (Dunedin), Keith Cameron (Dunedin), Ben Nolan (Harbour)
