North Otago will have plenty of work to do to make it back into the Meads Cup this year after the draw for the Heartland Championships was released yesterday.
North Otago was disappointing last year in failing to make the top tier Meads Cup and was forced into the Lochore Cup section, although it was good enough to win the final against West Coast.
This season's draw has just been released and North Otago has been included with Mid Canterbury, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa Bush, Buller and East Coast.
Though it has missed perennial heavyweight Wanganui, it will face formidable foes in Mid Canterbury, Poverty Bay and Wairarapa Bush.
It lost to both Mid Canterbury and Poverty Bay last year and this year has only two home games - against Buller and Poverty Bay - in the opening five rounds which decides which teams go through to the Meads Cup.
The match against Mid Canterbury at the Ashburton showgrounds on September 11 looms as crucial for North Otago, under new coaches Barry Matthews and Shane Carter.
North Otago kicks off its season with a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland on July 9 and its first game in the Heartland Championships is against East Coast on August 28 in Ruatoria.
