By Stu Piddington

South Canterbury will have their best ever representation in the New Zealand Heartland XV with four players selected.

Kieran Coll will be joined by openside Nick Strachan, prop Matt Fetu and halfback Willie Wright in the team which take on New Zealand Marist in Timaru on November 4.

The annual fixture will be the Heartland XV's only game of the season, having toured Fiji last year.

Halfback Willie Wright has been one of the Heartland's best in 2017

It will be Strachan and Wright's debut in the black jersey with veteran Fetu having made it on three previous occasions, while Coll captained the side last year.

Strachan said he was both delighted and honoured to be picked.

"It's great to make it, I am really looking forward to the game."

KAI SCHWOERER/GETTY IMAGES

Matt Fetu has made the NZ Heartland side for the fourth time.

The 29-year-old said it had been a long time coming.

"Obviously it has been a goal of mine for a few years and I guess it makes up a bit for not making the Meads Cup final."

Strachan was also rapt for his friends Wright and Fetu.

Kieran Coll returns to the side he captained in 2016. No captain has been named for 2017 as yet.

"To make it with two close mates, Willie and Matty is also very special."

Wright was also delighted by his inclusion.

"I am pretty stoked. It was definitely a goal but I thought maybe next year.

Nick Strachan has fulfilled a dream by pulling on the 'silver fern'.

"I just wanted to nail down the (South Canterbury) starting spot and play all the games.

"It will be cool playing with the other two."

The Heartland XV will be coached by South Canterbury head coach Barry Matthews with Buller's Craig Scanlon his assistant.

The squad features just seven players from the 2016 campaign including Coll.

Gavin Miller, coach of Timaru Boys' High School First XV, will be the side's trainer, in the same role he had for South Canterbury.

The playing quartet have featured strongly in South Canterbury's run to the Meads Cup sem-final, which ultimately ended in disappointment, going down 29-24 to Wanganui.

Fetu is one of the competition's best scrummagers while Strachan had his best season in 'green and black'.

Wright has been one of the stand-out performers for South Canterbury while Coll's Heartland experience probably got him the nod after an up and down season by his standards.

Loan players and 'players of origin' are not considered for the team, while players not born in New Zealand have to satisfy some residential requirements.

South Canterbury wing Kalavini Leatigaga was also considered but do not meets those requirements.

In a twist Fetu, Strachan and Wright were also eligible for New Zealand Marist through their successful club Celtic, so it is likely Marist coach Shaun Breen is scrambling to fill one or two gaps.

Mid Canterbury and North Otago are both well represented in the NZ Heartland side with three each.

North Otago's midfielder Lemi Masoe, props Ralph Darling and Melikisua Kolinisau are in the team along with Mid Canterbury loose forward Seta Koroitamana, lock Eric Duff and utility back Jared Percival.

Meads Cup finalists Wanganui have three in the side and Horowhenua Kapiti four.

Matthews said players were picked on form."When you are coming together for one match, it's important to pick guys in form, and these are the players who have impressed this season."We had a good culture last season so we will look to build on that, do some one-on-one coaching and make sure it's an enjoyable week; it is a thrill for these guys to represent their provinces in this team."

Matthews said NZ Marist bring some very good players together and the matches are always very evenly contested.

"So we know we're in for a big match."

NZ HEARTLAND XV: Scott Cameron (Horowhenua Kapiti), Craig Clare (Wanganui), Kieran Coll (South Canterbury), Ralph Darling (North Otago), Eric Duff (Mid Canterbury), Anthony Ellis (Buller), Matt Fetu (South Canterbury), Bryn Hudson (Wanganui), Nathan Kendrick (Horowhenua Kapiti), Melikisua Kolinisau (North Otago), Seta Koroitamana (MidCanterbury), Sam Maddams (Wanganui), Lemi Masoe (North Otago), Siosiua Moala (Poverty Bay), Willie Paia'aua (Horowhenua Kapiti), Jarred Percival (Mid Canterbury), Ethan Pollock (Horowhenua Kapiti), Tom Reekie (West Coast), Ethine Reeves (Poverty Bay), Maleli Sau (Mid Canterbury), Andrew Stephens (Buller), Nick Strachan (South Canterbury), Willie Wright (South Canterbury)