Tasman captain Andrew Goodman has not given up on his side making the semifinals of the Air New Zealand Cup, but it will have to break new territory if it wants to get there.
Goodman, who spent five years in Dunedin and played club rugby for Southern and also lined up for Otago B, will start at centre for Tasman tomorrow, as the side looks to get its campaign back on track after a demoralising 41-0 loss to Southland last week.
"We just didn't turn up last week and if you do that in this competition, then you will get dominated," he said.
"But in saying that, we are still in the hunt with two games to go and if results go our way, we can still make it."
Tasman plays Otago at Carisbrook tomorrow and then its final round game is against Wellington in Blenheim next Friday night.
Tasman was seventh before this round and will need those above it to lose, and lose heavily, to get into fourth place.
But first it has to concentrate on beating Otago tomorrow, and Goodman said the side was keen to get some revenge for its previous trip south in 2007.
It has never beaten Otago, losing 32-13 in its only trip to Carisbrook, in 2007, and then drawing 21-21 with Otago in Nelson last season.
"Otago on their home ground will be tough and we know Wellington are not going to be easy either. But this competition is where anyone can beat anyone, so who knows what is going to happen."
Goodman, who turns 27 later this month, is a school teacher when not playing rugby.
He has fond memories of his time in Dunedin, but he never cracked the Otago senior side, having to stand behind the likes of Neil Brew and Seilala Mapusua.
Goodman is shipped out to centre for tomorrow's game, after playing most of his rugby this year at second five.
He did not mind where he played, although he admitted he enjoyed the greater space on the outside.
Tasman has been a team tipped for the chop at the end of the season, when the Air New Zealand Cup is reduced to 10 teams.
But Goodman said the team was simply concentrating on what could be done on the field and keeping other things out of mind.
