A dramatic second-half comeback helped Dunedin win its 11th premier banner last year when it beat Taieri 21-20 in the final.
It will be difficult for Dunedin to win again this year because it has lost nine key players from last year's winning team.
Halfback Brad Weber now lives in Hamilton and counter-attacking fullback Liam Edwards is in Hawkes Bay.
Flanker Gareth Evans, who has shifted to Hawkes Bay, has been assigned to the team during the Highlanders season but is unlikely to play.
Edwards kicked four goals in last year's final and has been a prolific scorer in club rugby in the last three years. He scored 193 points in 2011, 199 in 2012 and 160 points last winter.
But the loss of key players has not deterred new coach Elgan O'Donnell.
''We just have to put ourselves in contention for a place in the top four,'' he said.
''Anything can happen in finals rugby. If you're in the top four, you're in with a chance.''
O'Donnell has extensive coaching experience but this is the first time he has coached in Dunedin.
He grew up in Southland and made the provincial development squad as a five-eighth before shifting to Scotland and playing for Borughmuir's top team in Edinburgh.
He started coaching in Scotland before returning to Southland to coach Pirates-Old Boys to the semifinals in the past two years, and the Southland sevens team.
Dunedin will be captained by hooker Sam Anderson-Heather, who had an outstanding game in last year's final.
A nucleus of last year's champion team remains with players of the calibre of Hugh Blake (flanker), Will Henry (prop), Mitchell Zandstra (loose forward), Richard Thompson (lock), Kaituu Kaufana (midfield) and Mark Grieve-Dunn (lock) in the team.
Taieri has been the form team in Dunedin club rugby for the past three years and narrowly failed to get a third successive banner win last season.
It again has a strong squad, with promising younger players replacing the 13 members of last year's squad who have left.
A key newcomer in the Taieri backline is first five-eighth Josh Casey, who played for the Otago sevens team this year. Casey, fullback Ben Miller and halfback Will Cosgriff played for the Taieri colts last year.
Other recruits are flanker James Lentjes, from Canterbury, and winger Dwayne Burrows, who played all 11 games for Mid Canterbury in the Heartland Championship last year.
The biggest loss is midfield back Ben Nowell, who has returned to the family farm in Kurow.
Another big loss for the Eels is lock Karl Bloxham, who will be out for the season recovering from a hamstring injury and a shoulder operation. Prop Brett Anderson has gone back to Queenstown.
University A stumbled in a close loss in the semifinal stage last year and will want to go at least one better this year.
The side has lost captain Paul Grant and key back Guy Schwikkard, while Dale Jarden is taking the year off.
First five-eighth Stephen Fenemor has had a major knee operation and may not be sighted this season. But Fletcher Smith, a promising first five from Christchurch, has joined the club.
Speedster Gavin Stark, who made the New Zealand schools team last year, will add his talents to the University backline, while Sione Teu, who played lock last year, will play off the back of the scrum.
New Zealand colts and Otago back Fa'asiu Fuatai has had a shoulder reconstruction and may be back late in the first round.
Southern will also be looking to take the next step after it lost at the semifinal stage last year.
It has new coaches, with Colin Tuaine and Francis Fitzpatrick stepping up after enjoying success at colts level over the past couple of years.
The bulk of the squad has returned, and the Magpies should have plenty of power in the forward pack. Jackson Hemopo and Mika Mafi have joined from Green Island, and Highlanders Tom Franklin and TJ Ioane are likely to be available for significant parts of the season.
Southern has promoted players from its successful colts team, while the major loss is No 8 Sam Crompton, who has gone to Australia. Hooker Jonny Simmons has retired.
In the backs, the Walden brothers will have big roles to play, and Josh Ioane is an interesting newcomer from King's College in Auckland.
At Bishopscourt, Kaikorai is looking to build on last year when it finished equal with Southern on points for fourth place but missed out on the semifinals on countback.
Fullback Tony Ensor, coming back from a knee injury, is running again and could be back on the field in just over a month.
Coach Andy Hunter hopes the side has learned from last year.
It lost games to lowly opposition and must make sure this is not repeated this season.
The return of lively hooker Ben Pereira will add spice to a rejuvenated Alhambra-Union team capable of matching the heavyweights in the premier competition.
Heavy work commitments last year took Pereira out of all rugby but he is back again and eager to help his team make the top four. He has the knack of finding the line, scoring eight tries in 2010, seven in 2011 and eight in 2012.
Fullback Corey McFadzean has returned after missing last season because of a broken wrist. He adds thrust to the backline that thrives on the attacking game.
Most of last year's squad is back, with the major losses being dependable No 8 Graeme Cashmore, who has transferred to Wellington, and loose forward Jeremy McKee to England.
Midfield back Ben Main has returned from overseas and flanker Ben Johnson is back after a year in England. Prop Witana Pretley has been promoted from the colts.
Last year, Alhambra-Union had a slump in mid-season when it lost five games in a row, but it came back strongly when top players returned to win five of its last seven games.
Otago prop Scott Manson is back from injury and will strengthen the pack, while the inside-back combination of Caleb Gray and Peter Breen will play a key role.
Pirates, as usual, will field a competitive forward pack but may battle to create try-scoring opportunities out wide.
Jake Maiono and Hisa Sasagi will set a strong platform up front - no doubt that will please the club's new coach, former long-serving prop Daniel Johnson - and Solomon Pole will be dangerous if he gets room off the back of the scrum.
The backline will be guided by the talented inside-back combination of Tyrone Davies and Tim Cossens.
There is a feeling that Harbour, desperate to return to the top table after a couple of lean years, could be one of the clubs to watch this season.
New coach Marty Hurring is ambitious and confident, and believes the Hawks will be a force once they have their top XV on the field.
Hurring has hinted at a couple of new arrivals to join Mateo Malupo, an explosive winger who has played for Northland and Tonga. More should be known in the coming weeks.
Abrasive hooker Pete Mirrielees, New Zealand Colts flanker Hadleigh May and the versatile Charles Elton feature in a forward pack that will not be afraid to get its hands dirty. In the backs, look for rising midfielder Aleki Morris to continue his progress.
The new Green Island coach is Motu Huch, who has a wide experience in Dunedin premier rugby after playing 181 premier games - 74 for Kaikorai and the rest for Green Island and University.
He played his last premier game for University A last year.
Huch has been player-coach for the Otago Samoan team and for Varsity B but this will be his first time as head coach.
Green Island has lost rampaging loose forward Mika Mafi and Otago lock Jackson Hemopo to Southern, and halfback Dean Moeahu has retired after playing 221 premier games.
Notable recruits are Samoan under-20 players Tony Keresoma (prop) and Tala Fagasoaia (halfback), and midfield back Pasko Ivancic, who played for Croatia last year.
Lively loose forward Frankie Elisara has returned.
The goal-kicker is first five-eighth Brady Page, who played for Auckland age-group teams before coming to Otago.
Andrew Meville has taken over the coaching reins at Zingari-Richmond from Brendon Timmins, who has moved to a role with University.
Melville retired at the end of last season, playing his 100th game for the Colours in the final match of the season.
He has coached professionally in Ireland and will bring some club passion to the side.
There will be size in the forwards, with former New Zealand colts lock Joe Latta back from a hip injury, which ruled him out last year. He will captain the side.
Backs Josh Botting and Lachie Moore have come up from South Otago club rugby and Neil Brew will again make an appearance.
Zingari-Richmond finished bottom last year so the only way is up for the men from Montecillo.
