  The local structure of NaTiSi$_{2}$O$_{6}$ is examined across its
Ti-dimerization orbital-assisted Peierls transition at 210 K. An atomic pair
distribution function approach evidences local symmetry breaking preexisting
far above the transition. The analysis unravels that on warming the dimers
evolve into a short range orbital degeneracy lifted (ODL) state of dual orbital
character, persisting up to at least 490 K. The ODL state is correlated over
the length scale spanning $\sim$6 sites of the Ti zigzag chains. Results imply
that the ODL phenomenology extends to strongly correlated electron systems.
