Otago coach Steve Martin is more worried about the combinations than the scoreboard when his side plays Southland at Tahuna Park today.
"Particularly with bringing the Super 14 players together with the younger players who have joined the squad."
"It [the score] is always important in any game you play.
But it is less important than how we perform doing the processes we need to like the set piece and the running of our continuity play, and the defensive screen.
Those are the sorts of things we will be concentrating on more than the actual outcome."
Martin will be paying close attention to the performances of openside flankers Carl Anderson and Jason Kelly.
The pair were added to the squad after Alando Soakai announced he would miss the entire 2008 Air New Zealand Cup season.
The experienced flanker plans to have shoulder reconstruction surgery and will face a four to six-month rehabilitation period.
Back-up flanker South African Eben Joubert broke his finger during the Otago trial match and will miss the match against Southland.
"For Carl and Jason, really it is a chance to stake a claim for that openside spot.
They've been given the opportunity this weekend and it is real chance for them to show they can perform at that level.
Highlanders No 8 Steven Setephano will captain the side.
Craig Newby is still struggling with a neck injury but Martin is hopeful he will be fit for the opening Air New Zealand Cup match against Southland in Invercargill on August.
•Otago v Southland Tahuna Park, 1.15pm
Otago: Ben Smith, Karne Hesketh, Brett Mather, Dan Snee, Lucky Mulipola, Daniel Bowden, Toby Morland, Steven Setephano, Carl Anderson, Hoani Matenga, Ross Kennedy, Seko Qaraniqio, Ben Nolan, Jason MacDonald, Jeremy Aldworth.
Reserves:Peter Mirrielees, Sam Hibbard, Tom Donnelly, Paul Grant, Sean Romans, Chris Noakes, Andrew Parata, Casey Stone, Jason Kelly.
