Coach Tom Donnelly has predictably made a swag of changes for the "storm week" clash with Hawke’s Bay at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night.
No fewer than 10 switches have been made from the team that posted the impressive win over Tasman on Saturday.
That is no surprise given Otago will also back up to play the derby against Southland in Invercargill on Sunday.
Six of the changes are in the forward pack, where veteran prop Josh Hohneck replaces Abraham Pole and will captain the team with James Lentjes given the night off.
Hohneck is joined in an all-new front row by young prop Saula Ma’u (replacing Jermaine Ainsley) and hooker Ricky Jackson (replacing Henry Bell).
Josh Hill comes in for Will Tucker - the late hero of the Tasman game with a crucial lineout steal - and Taieri workhorse Sam Fischli replaces rookie Oliver Haig on the blindside flank.
Seasoned newcomer Rupeni Tamani takes Lentjes’ spot at No8, with star man Christian Lio-Willie still not deemed ready for action.
Cameron Millar gets another chance to settle into the No10 jersey, but he will have new players inside and outside in the form of James Arscott (replacing Kemara Hauiti-Parapara) and Raymond Nu’u (replacing Thomas Umaga-Jensen) respectively.
Vilimoni Koroi is recalled on the wing in place of Jona Nareki, who is having a scan this week on his injured ankle.
An interesting selection is at fullback, where Sam Gilbert is replaced by Josh Ioane.
It will be a 50th appearance for Otago for Ioane, who started in the No 10 jersey in the opening-round loss to Counties-Manukau.
It is a sign of the depth in Otago that no fewer of the eight players brought in for tomorrow night’s game have Super Rugby experience.
An exciting new face on the bench is Jake Te Hiwi, the Green Island midfielder-winger who started all three games in Australia for the New Zealand colts this year and is in line for his NPC debut.
Hawke’s Bay comes south on the back of an opening draw with Waikato and a one-point win over Counties-Manukau in a Ranfurly Shield defence.
Otago team
To play Hawke’s Bay
Josh Ioane, Freedom Vahaakolo, Josh Timu, Raymond Nu’u, Vilimoni Koroi, Cameron Millar, James Arscott, Rupeni Tamani, Sean Withy, Sam Fischli, Josh Hill, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma’u, Ricky Jackson, Josh Hohneck (captain). Reserves: Henry Bell, Abraham Pole, Tau Koloamatangi, Will Tucker, Oliver Haig, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Sam Gilbert, Jake Te Hiwi.
