North Otago coach Mike Mullins hopes that players make the most of the game.
"It's a good opportunity for us to look at some players who are trying to cement a spot in the Heartland team.
Obviously, it's a couple of months away but we want to make the top four and the final, so there's . . . a lot of work ahead of us.
"Looking at the Otago team, it's not the one that we played two years ago and it's not full of Super 14 players so it's possibly an opportunity for us to knock off an Air New Zealand Cup team."
North Otago will be without key loose forward Ross Hay, who will be replaced by Old Boys flanker Paula Fonokalafi.
"Ross has been struggling with some nerve damage in a shoulder. He's been getting hit in games and losing the power in one arm.
"But Paulo Fonokalafi is a very good footballer. He's very physical at the breakdown."
Alhambra-Union's Cowan Finch, a former semi-professional basketball player, has converted to rugby and Mullins believes he has potential.
"He's very good in the line-outs, an area we struggled in last year, but he'll be up against Hayden Triggs and Steven Setephano."
The Alhambra-Union/North Otago liaison has continued this season.
"Peter Breen will come to us as a `state of origin' player. He's played most of his club rugby at 15 but hopefully he'll come through as a 10 and play Heartland for North Otago."
Wahari Waitohi is another included in the squad for today.
He played at six for his club while Matt Clutterbuck was at seven but with Clutterbuck's departure he's moved to the openside for his club.
"Jone Paumau, who played for North Otago last season as a utility back, is also in the line-up."
North Otago has plenty of front-row contenders.
John Blakely and the versatile Ralph Darling will start as props this afternoon, with former Munster player Mike Essex in as hooker.
The Mafi brothers, Palenapa and Tavite, will also be in contention, along with Rangi Hepi and Josh Collier, a former flanker who is moving into the hooking role.
- Terry O'Neill
