They are still feeling the effects of the flu which developed after the North Otago game in Oamaru last week.
Otago coach Steve Martin said yesterday two-thirds of the Otago squad for the North Otago game caught the flu last week.
The virus has led to changes for the warm-up game against Mid Canterbury on Saturday.
Two University A players have been given the nod.
Paul Grant will play at No 8 instead of Setephano, and Hoani Matenga at lock in place of Qaraniqio.
Matenga, who usually plays as blindside flan-ker for University A, is a skilled line-out jumper, mobile around the paddock and a sound tackler.
A feature of the squad of 23 announced for the game is the inclusion of Zingari-Richmond prop James Cooper, who has been named on the bench.
"Sam Hibbard has a shoulder injury and we have brought James Cooper into the squad," Martin said.
The all-Harbour front row is Ben Nolan, Pete Mirrielees and South African Pieter van de Merwe, who will be playing his first game for Otago.
Prop Keith Cameron had an operation on his thumb after the North Otago game and will be out for four to six weeks.
The reserve hooker is Jason Macdonald, a draft player with the Crusaders this year, who has returned from the Junior All Blacks.
Brett Mather has recovered from injury and will join veteran Luke Herden in the midfield.
Glenn Dickson is at fullback and the old firm of Sean Romans and Chris Noakes will be the inside backs.
The Lawrence club will get its third Otago representative this season, with Junior Maiono named as the reserve lock.
The only player from the Otago squad available for club rugby is Lawrence halfback James Kenny.
Johnny Legg, who came from Canterbury to try his hand for Otago, has been named on the reserves' bench.
Martin was pleased by the 79-3 win against North Otago last week.
"We had good combinations and our pattern worked efficiently "Our philosophy for the Mid Canterbury game is the same. We want to win and to win convincingly," Martin said.
Otago team
To play Mid Canterbury
Glenn Dickson, Karne Hesketh, Brett Mather, Luke Herden, Lucky Mulipola, Chris Noakes, Sean Romans (captain), Paul Grant, Eben Joubert, Charlie O'Connell, Hoani Matenga, Hayden Triggs, Peter van de Merwe, Pete Mirrielees, Ben Nolan.
Reserves: Jason Macdonald, James Cooper, Junior Maiono, Adam Hill, Johnny Legg, Sam Young, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Andrew Parata.
