The Otago side will be looking to go at least one better than last year at the national sevens tournament in Queenstown this weekend.
The Otago side made it as far as the semifinals last year, before losing to Counties-Manukau 31-10.
Several members of that side have returned for another crack this year, and have been training hard for the past couple of months.
Mike Moeahu is again coaching the side, for the eighth year, and the team includes University A and Otago loose forward Paul Grant, who played for the New Zealand sevens side in the last two IRB tournaments in Dubai and South Africa.
Five members of the premiership-winning Alhambra-Union side are in the team, including captain Matt Clutterbuck, who will lead the Otago side.
The side has been training since the start of November and had a three-day camp over the weekend in Cromwell, where it trained with the Otago Country side.
It also played in a South Island tournament late last year, entering two teams, with one losing narrowly to a Canterbury side in the final.
The group trained over the Christmas break and Moeahu has been impressed with the commitment shown by the group.
The side is in a tough pool, facing Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Waikato, and Moeahu said the competition would be white hot.
Auckland is the defending champion.
The Otago side has no definitive playmaker but has players who can swap between backs and forwards.
Otago needs to finish in the top two in its pool to qualify for the quarterfinals to be played on Sunday.
Otago has made the semifinals three times at the tournament, and the final once, in 2004, but has never won the event.
Otago
Sevens team
Matt Clutterbuck, Paul Grant, Doug Edwards, Jone Paumau, Karne Hesketh, Tasi Cordtz, Brad Cameron, Waharai Waitohi, Randell Kamea, Peter Breen, Jeremy Cave, Fraser Lau.
