Club supporters should get plenty of opportunities to see some of the region's top players on the various Dunedin grounds this winter.
All members of the Highlanders squad have, as is traditional, been assigned to a Dunedin premier club for the year.
The theory is that any of the players can be released on any given week to play for their club, and Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has consistently done that with a group of players in recent seasons.
One of the clubs that could benefit most this season is Alhambra-Union, which regularly should be able to include part-time Highlanders Kurt Baker and Jason Emery in its backline.
It will not see Liam Coltman, Joe Wheeler and Shane Christie quite so often.
Southern should also get some mileage out of backs Tei Walden and Ryan Tongia, though lock Tom Franklin will not get many opportunities for the Magpies.
While Hayden Parker will be disappointed to slide to third in the Highlanders' first five-eighth rankings, defending champion Taieri will be delighted to get the playmaker for a big chunk of the club season.
The Eels' other Highlander is prop Kane Hames.
University has just one player (Richard Buckman), and Pirates three (Ma'afu Fia, Dan Pryor and Mark Reddish).
Kaikorai has regulars Josh Renton and Lee Allan, as well as Ash Dixon and Josh Hohneck, and Dunedin has club stalwarts Sam Anderson-Heather and Gareth Evans, along with Trent Renata and Alex Ainley.
Oddly, Zingari-Richmond has two Highlanders halfbacks (Aaron Smith and Fumiaki Tanaka) and two first fives (Lima Sopoaga and Marty Banks).
The Colours will barely sight those four but will get regular contributions from lock Joe Latta.
Green Island has its All Black star, Ben Smith, plus Nasi Manu, Patrick Osborne, Ross Geldenhuys and Brendon Edmonds, and Harbour has Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Waisake Naholo and Pingi Ta'alapitaga.