Hi Bryan, I also found it a good idea to spend a few nights studying Octans with binoculars, finderscope and then through the eyepieces and relating it back to my star charts.
I now find that I have a good feel for the area and finding that faint little beggar called Sigma not as daunting any more. There are still a few other areas to sort out and polish up in polar aligning but at least one hurdle has been cleared.
Cheers