With a weather bomb due to hit the country over the weekend and Taranaki right in the firing line, the pitch is not going to be hard and fast.
It is looking like a tough game based around the forward packs with the kicking games of both sides under examination. As predicted, the Taranaki side will be without the two Barrett brothers, Beauden becoming a father yesterday with the arrival of daughter Billie Rose Barrett .
New All Black lock Tupou Vaa’i has been retained in the Taranaki team. Stephen Perofeta replaces Jordie Barrett at the back while Jayson Potroz will be at first five-eighth.
Otago has kept the same starting team which defeated Manawatu last week. The only change is in the reserves where outside back Mitch Scott replaces loose forward Sean Withy to bring more balance to the bench.
Otago coach Tom Donnelly said the side had talked about the Ranfurly Shield this week and it was important to recognise it was a prestigious trophy to play for and it was exciting to play in big games.
Taranaki had impressed in its first two games, was in form and would be keen to defend the shield, Donnelly said.
"They are just playing really good footy. We have to be totally accurate. Be good with our penalties, look after the ball like we did last week," he said.
"It is supposed to be wet up there so we need to treasure the ball. If we give the ball away like we did last week at the start of the game it will be a tough night at the office.
"It has been raining all week up there, tough ground at Inglewood."
Donnelly said the side had trained hard this week and was starting to find its feet. It was ready to rip into the game and give Taranaki a tough challenge.
Otago had brought experienced halfback Jono Hickey into the squad.
Donnelly said with just two halfbacks in the squad in Kayne Hammington and James Arscott and some young back-ups, experience was needed at halfback.
Hickey (29) was an seasoned campaigner and Donnelly said he was a player who had already made an impact at training.
Outside back Taylor Haugh had injured his knee in the club semifinal and was seeking further medical advice on Monday.
Although it was unclear before the scan how serious the injury was, he was likely to miss some weeks.
