North Otago begin their quest for success when they play their opening Hawke Cup cricket match against Southland this weekend.
The side finished rock-bottom in the three-team competition last season, but the signs are looking promising for a vastly improved effort this time around.
North Otago have used their pre-season games to experiment with younger players and it looks to be paying dividends.
Although the results have not proved to be hugely successful, when the Hawke Cup cranks into action on Saturday, the team's improvement will be there for all to see.
North Otago and Southland battled it out in Oamaru during a quadrangular tournament last month. But on that occasion Southland emerged the winners with former Black Cap Jeff Wilson smashing a whirlwind half-century before destroying the home side's batting line up.
Coach Glynn Cameron said he was happy with the side's preparation but was wary of Wilson's match winning ability. But here could be yet be blue sky on the horizon.
"Jeff Wilson may not be playing in the match," Cameron said yesterday.
There are only two North Otago players unavailable for the game -Cameron, who pulled a hamstring playing for North Otago last weekend and Geoff Smith who is unavailable because of exams.
"Apart from that, this is our strongest squad," Cameron said.
The experienced Neil Rushton will captain the side, a decision Cameron said was easy to make.
"Having Neil back boost our side 100 percent. Unless he is called up by Otago he will captain the side for the rest of the season."
Cameron also said his biggest worry heading into the match was his side's average batting performance.
Last weekend North Otago collapsed in the second innings against Canterbury Country in their last warm-up match due to poor shot selection.
"There were a lot of shots that were not warranted. We should have used that innings as simple batting practice," he said of his sides dismal second innings effort.
This weekend he wants to see his batsman applying better concentration out in the middle.
"We need more stability and not look to our middle order to score the bulk of our runs."
Establishing a first-innings lead was the team's main goal, Cameron said.
"We should be able to push on for first-innings points. We want to bat first and then hopefully bowl them out twice."
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Southland at Queen's Park, Invercargill
North Otago 114 ( D.J. Drew 25, S. Halliwell 16, G.D. Smith 16, McClean 3-25, Hodson 3-31, Mauhenui 2-18 ) & 167 ( D.J. Drew 47, P. Cartwright 22, J.B. Crombie 19, G. Lemon 15, S. Halliwell 12, Sutherland 3-23, Donaldson 3-53 )
Southland 139 ( D. Cocker 59, D. Williams 27, D. Hall 16, P. Henry 12, R. Fox 4-24, S. Singh 3-57, W. Moore 2-10 ) & 143-6 ( D. Williams 43, D. Hall 24, B. Freeman 17no, G. Folster 13, D. Cocker 13no, P. Henry 12, J.B. Crombie 4-65 )
First innings win to Southland
Full scorecard for the match