The North Otago Heartland side has been named for round five of the 2024 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship. North Otago will take on South Canterbury in Temuka, with kickoff at 2:00pm.
A new lock combination is the feature of the forward pack, with Fegus Read switching to the number 4 jersey and Lawrence Leung-Wai making his starting debut this week.
Mataitini Feke makes his return to the midfield, along with Seva Druma who comes back into the starting lineup at wing in place of Oli Knopp who moves to the bench.
Lisivani Tuifua comes back into the side and will take his place on the bench alongside Anthony Docherty who is also back this week. Matia Batavotavo will get another opportunity, after coming on against Thames Valley in Round 2. Outside back Jamie Mullan will get another chance to make his first class debut.
Starting XV:
Jake Greenslade
Ryusei Kato
Bradley Harewood
Fergus Read
Lawrence Leung-Wai
Savenaca Rabaka
Mathew Duff (cc)
Kasimila Vaihu
Jake Matthews
Greg Dyer
Mavaetangi Finau
Mataitini Feke
Hayden Todd
Seva Druma
Ben McCarthy
Reserves: 16. Cameron Rowland (cc) 17. Roney Vanila 18. Lisivani Tuifua 19. Conor Lawson 20. Anthony Docherty 21. Matia Batavotavo 22. Jamie Mullan* 23. Oli Knopp
*Potential North Otago First Class debut
Management: Head Coach: Jason Forrest
Director of Coaching: Barry Matthews
Assistant Coach: Scott Barnes
Manager: Marty McAtamney
Logistics/Communications: Colleen Carroll
Trainer: Scott Mayhew
Physio: Mike Wheeler