Injuries and unavailability have the North Otago cricket team to take a squad short of experience for their Hawke Cup match against Southland in Invercargill this weekend.
Selector Mark Wilson told the Oamaru Mail this morning "15 or 16" players were not considered due to injury or unavailability.
"When you take out 15 or 16 players out of the North Otago team it is always going to be a struggle, but we are looking at this in a positive way.
"This is an ideal opportunity for some younger guys to put their hands up for next year's team.
"It is an opportunity fro the younger guys to get a taste of what the Hawke Cup is all about," he said.
St Kevin's batsman Blair Cooper is one player who the selectors have decided to take a chance with.
Cooper, now 16, has played with distinction in Otago age-group teams.
Wilson was the first to acknowledge Cooper had been fast tracked into the North Otago team.
"We have to be careful not to put to much pressure on him, but with a few more experienced guys helping him he should be OK.
"His ability is very high and he is a confidence player with a lot of potential, " he said.
North Otago welcome back Craig Smith, a member of the New Zealand under-19 team.
Wilson said the North Otago team was not travelling all the way to Invercargill to come second.
"We are not going down there with a negative attitude. The team will play some positive cricket and an upset is not out of the question," he said.
Wilson said the team had been led well by captain Neil Rushton.
"Neil has been great since he was made captain. He has led by example and has looked after the younger guys.
"Compared to last year his has not been the best of years, but the team spirit is really good, " he said.
Southland's confidence has been boosted by the return of former Black Cup Jeff Wilson, The double international stained his calf muscle while playing for Otago against Auckland in a four-day State Championship match two weeks ago.
But Wilson recovered faster than expected and would take his place in the Southland team.
An outright win for Southland will result with them winning the southern zone with a match to spare. They will then play either Canterbury Country or South Canterbury to see who has the South Island challenge for the Hawke Cup.
North Otago have yet to register a point in the three-team competition after two outright losses as well as a first innings defeat.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Southland at Queen's Park, Invercargill
Southland 227 ( G. Folster 104no, M. Billcliff 25, N. Turner 22, D. Cocker 19, S. Brown 16, D. Williams 11, C.M. Smith 3-62, N.W. Rushton 2-46 )
North Otago 75 ( C.M. Smith 34no, A.B. Sewell 14, Billcliff 5-18, Wilson 4-15 ) & 119 ( C.M. Smith 43, N.W. Rushton 37, M. Creighton 11, Wilson 3-19, Hodson 3-26, Turner 2-23 )
Southland won by an innings and 33 runs
Full scorecard for the match