Good positive start with the ball in hands for the home team.
As it stands in the Championship.
Otago lie in 3rd place on 21 points while Northland are in last position on 9 points with just 1 win to date in the tournament.
Welcome everyone to the first of this weeks ITM cup encounters. Northland play host to Otago in this penultimate game of the season. Northland have had a poor season and this penultimate game of the season is a rare chance to boost themselves on the ladder. There is also the increasing incentive to send Rene Ranger on his way with a positive end to the season. However, opposing that motivational force is the desire of Otago to secure a semi-finals place and in the final outcome that is likely to be the superior factor. Otago have opted to reduce their experience by giving fringe team members starts but those replacements have every reason to make the most of their chances