Now, as Otago loose forward Lee Allan says, it is time to put the disappointment of last Wednesday's loss to Northland behind it and make a statement.
''We set ourselves pretty high standards and we obviously did not meet those on Wednesday night.
"But the good thing about that is we can redeem ourselves pretty quickly with our game on Sunday,'' Allan said yesterday.
Otago lost to Northland 40-23 on Wednesday in a forgettable display but will seek redemption from an unexpected Ranfurly Shield challenge against fellow championship side Hawkes Bay tomorrow afternoon.
Otago lost its first challenge of the season, against Counties-Manukau three weeks ago, but a week later, Hawkes Bay wrestled the Log o' Wood off the South Aucklanders.
The schedule has Otago as the first challenger against the Magpies, and Allan, who starts on the bench tomorrow, said it was a chance the team was determined to grasp.
''Browny [coach Tony Brown] was saying he got one crack in 10 years and we are lucky enough to get two cracks in three weeks.
''Obviously, the boys who played last year know how important it is. It is almost like a drug. Once you have it, you don't want to let it go.
"Obviously, we want to get it back. It hurt losing it to them last time.''
Allan said with such a short turnaround from Wednesday's game, there was not a lot of physical preparation Otago could do - it was just all about getting the minds right.
''We've got to refocus. Play as a team, like we have been doing. In our attack, we just have to keep growing that. We have got some plans in place to take it to these boys.
''But we have just got to show up mentally, to be honest. We have got the goods to beat them.
"But if we are not mentally there then we will struggle. It will be like those semifinals and finals games.
"It will be a physical battle where no-one gives an inch.''
If it is a repeat of Wednesday's effort, it will be a long 80 minutes for Otago.
Allan said it was one of those games when everyone played below the required standard and that showed on the scoreboard.
''All the boys were off 5% to 10% and if everyone is off by those margins it adds up to a pretty poor effort.
"It seemed like we were always in it and it would tip our way in the last 20 minutes.
"But we made some schoolboy errors and it went their way.''
Otago has made some changes for tomorrow and will have to be stronger in all facets of the game.
Its defence has to be more accurate to stop the big Hawkes Bay midfield getting any momentum.
But most importantly, it has to play with a lot more fire than its last outing.
Execution and skill help win games but nothing gains a victory more than attitude and courage.
Revenge is also a factor after Hawkes Bay took the shield off Otago in the first defence in Dunedin last year.
Big games are needed from the likes of flanker TJ Ioane and backs Trent Renata and Hayden Parker if Otago is to mount a serious challenge.
They will be blazer games (15th) for halfback Josh Renton and winger Fa'asiu Fuatai. Showers are forecast for Napier tomorrow.
