In the most obvious statement since George Bush admitted he had made the odd mistake, Otago has plenty to play for when it takes on Wellington in the capital tonight.
Not only is there the small matter of the Ranfurly Shield up for grabs, but it wants to start off its Air New Zealand Cup campaign with a bang.
The side has slipped down the provincial rankings over the past couple of years and the players need to make an impact on the field not only for themselves but for the province.
Throw in the 52-year drought for the Log o' Wood and there is ample motivation tonight.
Otago coach Steve Martin sounded a note of caution on the focusing of winning the Ranfurly Shield, saying the team was approaching the match as simply the first game in the Air New Zealand Cup.
"The players realise that there is a trophy at stake but we have been focusing on this being week one of the competition," Martin said.
"In a way, the shield is just incidental . . . but the guys are hungry and I can sense a real urgency to do well."
Martin said winning the shield was going to come down to attitude and staying calm in tough situations.
"It's going to take huge desire and it's going to be the team that wants it the most. They are a dangerous opponent who have some talented players.
"But a lot of players who play the game for a long time don't even get the chance to play in a shield challenge, so these guys have that opportunity."
Playing Wellington first up could be a blessing or a curse.
Wellington is like that box of chocolates - you do not know what you are going to get until you open (play) them.
The Wellington union has huge playing depth and under coaches Jamie Joseph and Andre Bell, both former Otago players, will still put out a polished unit, despite having seven players away with the All Blacks.
It has explosive players out wide and in its pack, but lacks a core of experience within the team.
Otago has to start well and keep Wellington scoreless well into the game.
Put simply, Otago must not leak early tries and must tackle like demons.
Full of young, promising players, the side from the capital may become fragile if the game remains close.
Otago has been developing a core of experience in the past couple of years and Martin said it was time for some of those players to stand up and deliver.
"Guys like [Chris] Noakes, [Sean] Romans, Ben Smith have 10 to 12 games under their belts and some of them have good Super 14 experience. Clearly, these sort of guys are the future for Otago rugby. This is the season for them to get a chance to start games and to grow as players."
What Otago cannot afford is what happened when it last visited Westpac Stadium.
Two years ago, Otago journeyed to Wellington for the first game of the season and got hammered, falling to a record 68-7 loss.
But only four players from that Otago starting side will run out tonight, while Wellington has just three backing up from that game, a clear example of the huge turnover of players in New Zealand rugby.
Martin said that game from two years ago was irrelevant in regards to tonight's challenge.
"This is a new side who can make their own history."
The side has had a solid pre-season and is boosted by the return of All Black Adam Thomson from injury.
• Otago v Wellington
Wellington, tonight, 7.35pm
TAB odds: Wellington $1.15, Otago $5
Referee: Vinny Munro.
Otago: Ben Smith, Karne Hesketh, Brett Mather, Andrew Parata, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Chris Noakes, Sean Romans, Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai (captain), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Hayden Triggs, Sam Hibbard, Jason Macdonald, Ben Nolan.
Reserves: Peter Mirrielees, Kees Meeuws, Hoani Matenga, Paul Grant, Johnny Legg, Glenn Dickson, Luke Herden.
Wellington: Buxton Popoali'i, David Smith, Robert Fruean, Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Alby Mathewson, Mathew Luamanu, Scott Fuglistaller, Victor Vito, Jeremy Thrush, Api Naikatini, John Schwalger, Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison (captain).
Reserves: Ged Robinson, Anthony Perenise, Daniel Ramsay, Masefau Leuluniu, Ruki Tipuna, Fa'atonu Fili, Alapati Leiua.
