The side has four games left in its season and sits third in the championship, five points behind leader Hawkes Bay and four points behind Manawatu.
Otago plays Waikato in Hamilton on Sunday, before a quick turnaround to face Manawatu at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Wednesday.
It then plays Tasman in Nelson on August 21 and finishes the season against Canterbury at home on August 27.
In the condensed season, there are no semifinals, with just a straight final on September 2 in the Championship.
Otago co-coach Andy Hunter said the week off had been very valuable.
"To be able to have a break and know you have not got a game in three days is a bonus. We have had two good training sessions this week, and have rested the bodies," Hunter said.
Loose forward Regan Tamihere is back training and is available for the game against Waikato.
He strained his hamstring against Auckland in the second game of the season and has been out for four weeks.
No-one drops out the squad with the return of Tamihere but, with three games coming up in eight days, squad depth will once again be tested.
After a disappointing performance against Southland last Saturday, falling 19-12 in the final game at Carisbrook, the side needs to get quickly back to some sort of form.
Hunter said Otago was still well in with a chance of making the championship final.
Games over the past couple of weeks had shown teams from the lower championship had the ability to upset premiership sides and there were still plenty of crossover games to come.
Manawatu plays Canterbury on Sunday in Christchurch, while Hawkes Bay travels to Rotorua to take on Bay of Plenty.
Hamilton is not a happy hunting ground for Otago. It has not won there since 1995, having lost its last nine games there.
Waikato had a good 27-13 win over Canterbury yesterday, and its game against Otago will be its third in a week.
