| Home team | Manawatu |
| Away team | Otago |
| Venue | Central Energy Trust Arena |
| Competition | NPC |
| Kick-off time | 8:10 am (UK) 7:10 pm (NZ) |
| Watch Live in the UK | NPC YouTube |
Manawatu vs Otago NPC preview as the side meet at the Central Energy Trust Arena in round three of the competition.
Both teams have won one of their two games so far this season. Otago sit on six points after two games, while Manawatu are a point behind them on five points.
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Manawatu vs Otago confirmed lineups
| Manawatu | Otago | ||||
| Forwards | |||||
| Gavigan | 1 | Pearce | |||
| Fakava | 2 | Souchon | |||
| Yates | 3 | Ma’u | |||
| Allen | 4 | Stodart | |||
| Harley | 5 | Tamani | |||
| Howden | 6 | Elton | |||
| Woods | 7 | Casey | |||
| Bason | 8 | Lio-Willie | |||
| Backs | |||||
| Viljoen | 9 | Lam | |||
| Worboys | 10 | Millar | |||
| Tapueluelu | 11 | Nareki | |||
| Tofa | 12 | Te Hiwi | |||
| Brown | 13 | Timu | |||
| Filimone | 14 | Broomfield | |||
| MacDonald | 15 | Nemec-Vial | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| Finau | 16 | Bell | |||
| Hala-Ngatai | 17 | Lopas | |||
| Sae-Ta’ufo’ou | 18 | Wingham | |||
| Prouting | 19 | Irving | |||
| Roiri | 20 | McDowall | |||
| Philipson | 21 | McClea | |||
| Wild | 22 | Pellegrini | |||
| Laumape | 23 | Lucas | |||
Recent Form:
Manawatu (Home team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Won | 9th August 2026 | NPC | Southland | 36-35 |
| Loss | 2nd August 2026 | NPC | Northland | 40-14 |
| Loss | 4th October 2025 | NPC | Hawke’s Bay | 10-38 |
| Loss | 28th September 2025 | NPC | Counties Manukau | 48-24 |
| Loss | 21st September 2025 | NPC | Bay of Plenty | 19-55 |
Manawatu picked up a win against Southland after five losses in a row. They have conceded more than 30 points in each of their last six games and after going 35-19 behind to Southland, it took three tries in the last 19 minute to get the win.
Otago (Away team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 9th August 2026 | NPC | Canterbury | 15-19 |
| Won | 1st August 2026 | NPC | Southland | 14-41 |
| Loss | 25th October 2025 | NPC Playoffs | Canterbury | 36-28 |
| Won | 17th October 2025 | NPC Playoffs | Bay of Plenty | 41-17 |
| Won | 10th October 2025 | NPC Playoffs | Waikato | 44-41 |
Otago started the season with a massive win over Southland, but couldn’t defend the Ranfurly Shield against the 2025 winners who beat them in the final, Canterbury. Otago got back within four points with just over five minutes to go, but were unable to get another score in the remaining five minutes.
Manawatu vs Otago head-to-head record (last five matches):
| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| 22nd September 2024 | NPC | Otago | 10-28 |
| 25th September 2022 | NPC | Otago | 35-54 |
| 12th November 2021 | NPC Playofds | Otago | 16-44 |
| 2nd October 2021 | NPC | Manawatu | 27-14 |
| 20th September 2020 | NPC | Otago | 25-36 |
Otago have won eight out of their last nine meetings with Manawatu, with the only Manawatu win coming towards the end of the regular season when Otago would go on to win against Manawatu in the playoffs.
