Otago Country will want to put the 50-24 loss to Otago Development last week to one side and make amends when it plays Southland Development in Invercargill this afternoon.
Despite having five Otago ITM Cup squad members bolstering its line-up, Country struggled at the breakdown and in the tight last weekend.
Today will not be any easier, and the Country side will not have the luxury of having the services of those players.
Southland Development will be on a par with its Otago counterpart.
Coach Roger Cotton and assistant Sam Gibbens have had to make a multitude of changes but have put together a solid-looking team.
In the forward pack, Mike Blair moves from lock to blindside flanker, while Hayden Tapp starts at No 8, after being unavailable last week.
He replaces Simon Grant, of Clutha, who is unavailable today.
In the backs, fullback Shane Excel and first five-eighth Cam Johnston swap places, and Jai Baxter (Clyde-Earnscleugh) gets a start at halfback.
Marshall Suckling and Kurt Checketts come out of the backline and are replaced by Sam Wyber and Mike McCutcheon, while Shane Harrex, Josh Botting, Thomas Huddleston and Dan Eyles come on to the bench.
Otago Country v Southland Dev
Invercargill, today, 2.30pm
Otago Country: Cam Johnston, Sam Wyber, Tyler Bichan, Hayden Wyber, Mike McCutcheon, Shane Excel, Jai Baxter, Hayden Tapp, Lee Murray, Mike Blair, Craig Hyslop (captain), John Morrison, Blair Young, Reuben O'Connell, Stu Young. Reserves: Charles Crutchley, Simon Scott, Nick Gee, Shane Harrex, Josh Botting, Thomas Huddleston.
