Southland beat Otago at the breakdown all game and came back from an early 0-19 deficit to win 43-36.
The selectors had hoped a player would put his hand up to replace Alando Soakai, who is having shoulder reconstruction surgery and is out for the season.
It may be necessary to turn Otago captain Craig Newby into an openside flanker.
"Craig can certainly play there," Martin said.
"It may be an option we have to look at."
Newby is recovering from injury and hopes to be available for Otago's warm-up game against Wellington next Saturday.
Hoani Matenga, who plays lock for University A in club rugby, was tried at blindside flanker on Saturday.
"He played very well," Martin said.
"He has a tremendous spirit. He is athletic and very good at the line-out. He was one of our more mobile forwards today."
Southland has three very good flankers in Tim Boys, New Zealand under-19 representative John Hardie and Dion Bates, who have all played in the Air New Zealand Cup.
"We have yet to decide who are the players to do that job for us," Martin said. "We need to have more players at the contact situation and over the ball."
The Otago selectors also watched the club quarterfinal between Alhambra-Union and Southern to check the form of Alhambra-Union captain Matt Clutterbuck.
Martin was not concerned about the loss. The aim of the game was to develop team patterns and get the players used to playing under the Elvs (Experimental Law Variations).
"We know there's still work to do," Martin said. "But out of this game we will grow quickly because we have now got the video of the game to show the players that our reaction time at the turnover ball needs to improve.
Defence is another area of concern after Southland was able to penetrate too easily.
"We will have to work hard on our defensive screen," Martin said.
"We haven't done much work on that and it showed today."
There were also some bright spots for Otago, the most notable being the hat trick in the first spell to wing Karne Hesketh, the most dynamic player in the game.
"Karne has power and strength and made ground each time he got the ball," Martin said.
"He will be a potent weapon for us this year."
The Otago forwards looked strong in the set pieces.
"Both teams were coming to grips with the scrum calls that go with the new Elv laws," Martin said.
"It looked a bit messy at the start, but as the game progressed it provided us with a steady platform."
Lock Ross Kennedy continued the good form he has shown in club rugby with an energetic display, and hooker Jason Macdonald looked mobile in his first outing since the end of the Super 14.
Another to impress was Sam Hibbard, who played at tighthead prop in the second spell. He quickly came to grips with the new laws and gave the scrum a real shunt on the tighthead side in the last three scrums.
Loosehead prop Jeremy Aldworth impressed with his mobility, getting to breakdowns that other players could not reach.
Southland had talent in the backs, with 18-year-old fullback Robbie Robertson, who was in the New Zealand secondary schools team last year having an outstanding game, while Faaitu Tuamoheloa was dangerous on the right wing.
Otago rattled on three quick tries to lead 19-0 after just eight minutes. Southland came back with three tries in the first spell but Otago still held a handy 31-19 lead at the break.
The mobile Southland loose forwards and the flair of Robertson led to four more tries and 24 points in the second spell.
• Southland 43 (Hua Tamariki 2, Robbie Robertson, David Hall, Pehi Te Whare, Willie Rickards, Dion Bates tries; Blair Stewart 2 conversions, Robertson 2 conversions), Otago 36 (Karne Hesketh 3, Brett Mather, Toby Morland, Pete Mirrielees tries; Daniel Bowden 3 conversions). Half-time: Otago 31-19. Referee: Bryce Lawrence.
• Star watch: Seven of the best
Karne Hesketh (wing): Used his power, speed and strength to score a hat trick in the first spell. He was the most dynamic player on the paddock.
Ross Kennedy (lock): Skilled in the line-out and vigorous with the ball in hand and on the drive.
John Hardie, Dion Bates, Tim Boys (Southland loose forwards): Quick to the breakdown, superb in support play and gave Southland a plentiful supply of second-phase ball.
Robbie Robertson (Southland fullback): Brilliant on the counter-attack and showed kicking skills. Has the potential to be an All Black.
Kendrick Lynn (Southland centre): Had the speed to break the Otago defensive line in the midfield. Had an accurate pass.
