The craggy features of Laurie Mains loom large when it comes to assessing Otago.
To believe "Lozza," he was dragged kicking and screaming back to rescue his beloved side, although you would suspect he likes coaching a bit more than that.
Now that he has taken over from the nondescript Kevin Gloag,
expect the southern men, many of whom used to be northern men, to come out firing.
In what is becoming a New Zealand coaching tradition, Mains did not let the Carisbrook grass grow under his feet in sorting out his front row.
Like other coaches, he will go far and wide for formidable frontrowers.
You just cannot do without them.
Before you could finish saying "Paul Martin used to play for Waikato and the Chiefs," the 115kg frame of Cats prop Marius Mostert rolled into town.
Mains was not bothering with any niceties like waiting for the Carls - Hoeft and Hayman - to return from the All Blacks.
One thing is certain - Mains always has those cardigan sleeves rolled up ready for battle, whether the opponent be Louis Luyt, the South African Government, Bob Dwyer, or another footie team.
And he can cut his cloth to fit.
The man who tried to turn Marc Ellis into a test first five-eighths played bulldozer rugby when in charge of the Cats, and to pretty good effect.
Without their All Blacks, Otago look flaky, especially in the backs. But expect Mains' men to make a decent charge.
And whatever happens, it is always interesting when Laurie's about.
2001 NPC schedules
