And one man, who has played most of his rugby half a world away, is the key for Otago to win the match and stay very much alive in the competition.
South African flanker Eben Joubert gets his first start for Otago in the No 7 jersey, and his ability to secure ball for the blue and golds and give Otago some continuity to its game will go a long way to securing Otago a victory.
Joubert, bursting with energy after a captain's run at Carisbrook yesterday before flying to Nelson, was fully aware of what was expected.
"This a huge game for us. A must-win. This will be a huge turning point for our season," he said.
"The coaches have shown faith in me and I want to repay them. If I do not front up then the coaches have every right not to pick me."
Joubert, although not tall, is quick across the ground and a true openside flanker in the New Zealand mould.
He impressed last week when he came on in the second half against Bay of Plenty.
The 25-year-old was making a big impression in club rugby for Harbour until he broke his ring finger on his right hand in the Otago trial in early June.
A spiral fracture to the finger - the bone was cracked right up the middle of the finger - meant he could not play for nearly two months, although he could still give his lungs a good work-out.
That meant his fitness is intact, although he is yet to have a complete game.
"I've played a few games in the last weeks just coming off the bench, but not a full 80min yet."
But he is willing to empty the tank for Otago today, to help claim a win for the visitors.
With the game so unstructured and dominated by phase play these days under the new rules, no ball security at the breakdown means no or few wins on the scoreboard.
Captain Craig Newby has tried his hardest at openside flanker but it is a bit like asking Michael Phelps to swim Cook Strait.
He could do it, and efficiently, but he is better off elsewhere.
Newby switches to the No 6 jersey where he is much more at home.
Otago has made 10 changes to its side after the disappointing loss to Bay of Plenty last week, and coach Steve Martin says he is not panicking, just demanding a better and more accurate start from his side.
Martin has put his faith in some new players - Joubert, No 8 Paul Grant and halfback Sean Romans - and said the lack of experience did not matter as the more experienced players were not delivering the goods.
He wants more aggression in both attack and defence, and knows a loss will make it a long trip home.
In a late change, prop Jeremy Aldworth comes into the team after Keith Cameron picked up an injury on Thursday's training run.
Cameron strained a ligament in the back of his knee and did not travel to Nelson.
It will be Aldworth's 32nd game for Otago but amazingly is his first start for the side.
Jed Vercoe remains as the prop reserve.
Tasman coach Todd Blackadder has named an unchanged team from last week, and the side sits seventh, one place above Otago on the table going into the seventh round.
First five-eighth Miah Nikora has been steering the side round the paddock well, while props Ben Franks and Ben may have anchored a solid scrum.
With Tasman set to be removed from the Air New Zealand Cup next year, and the players out of job come next month, Blackadder's troops have plenty to play for - careers, pride, and to prove rugby bosses in Wellington wrong.
Just like the other side in blue and gold.
