The Saints have won the past three titles, although will face stiff competition this year, particularly from a strong Mid City Magic team.
The defending champion returns with its starters from last year, while adding Otago Boys' High School players Tai Pairoma-Flavell and Jaren Roy.
James Ross will be the key man.
A point guard who can do it all, he has been the dominant player in the league in recent years and forms a strong pick-and-pop duo with veteran Matt Gillan.
The Mid City Magic, last year's runner-up, has a classy line-up, too.
In Benoit Hayman it has a left-handed guard who emerged as a potent scoring threat last year, bringing an exceptional mid-range game.
Southland Sharks and Junior Tall Blacks forward Josh Aitcheson can dominate on both ends, while Magic has a raft of guards who can be its best player on any given day.
Two notable losses are Micah Lepaio and Jivarne Joseph, who will play for the club's second A-grade side, the Magic Lions, this year.
That duo will help make the Lions competitive, although there are several useful players around them in the likes of Lee Devereux and Olly McCombie.
The City Rise Bombers have lost Jan Verberne and Max Jablonski, but will have Olly Smith available on a full-time basis this year.
Coming with recent NBL experience, Smith could provide the Bombers with possibly the league's most dangerous shooting threat.
It has several pick-ups including Mark Bracewell, Matt Bardsley and Henri Njob-Anti, while it returns a handful of players including Steve Robinson and AJ Auld-Beverly.
Meanwhile, the Andy Bay Falcons have lost league best-and-fairest player Chris Hood, who has moved to Australia.
However it still boasts an Otago front-line in Matt Bazsika and Alex Yarnall.
It also has the ever-improving Hamish Robertson, while Sean Duff, Tom Davison and Alex Murray join Fraser Beck in a new-look back court.
As is often the case, Varsity is a potential wild card.
Having lost athletic swingman Sam Colenutt, forward Paul Won is the key player returning.
Newcomers Jimmy and Tommy Ellison are an unknown quantity, although come with good reputations, as does Stanly Muru.
This year the games will return to the traditional staggered timing, rather than all being played at the same time.
The Saints begin the season at 12.30pm against Mid City Magic Lions, while the Magic's top team plays Varsity at 2pm.
The Falcons and the Bombers will do battle in the final game of the round.
The Otago Gold Rush will play a pre-season game in Oamaru tomorrow against the WBC defending champion Canterbury Wildcats, tipping off at 1pm.
It will hold a coaching clinic for girls from the area, starting at 10am.
The Gold Rush begins its season next week against Waitakere next Sunday, tipping off at noon.
Men's club basketball squads for 2017:
Andy Bay Falcons
Tom Davison, FraserBeck, Hamish Robertson, Matt Bazsika, Alex Yarnall, Stephen Askew-Ives, Sean Duff, Alex Murray, George Phillips, Josh Campbell.
Varsity
Toby Skilton, William Buckley, Tommy Ellison, Jimmy Ellison, Benjamin Ross, Stanely Muru, Paul Won, Howie Hunter, Emerson Watson, Te Awanui Waaka, Cole Jefferies.
St Kilda Saints
James Ross, Matt Gillan, Damon Cleverly, Liam Aston, James Nicol, Aaron Roydhouse, Jamie McDonald, Harry Thorp, Vinnie Walker, Scott Robertson, Rene Sterk,
Michael Ruske, Jaron Roy, Tai Flavell.
City Rise Bombers
Steve Robinson, Mark Bracewell, Jason Frost, Jade Shaw, Chris Hepburn, Olly Smith, Apiti Maihi, Henrie Njob-Anti, Luke Wilson, Anton Hughes, Matt Bardsley, AJ Auld-Beverly, Adam van Heezik, Taine Pakai.
Mid City Magic
Darcy Knox, Josh Aitcheson, Beniot Hayman, Richie Rodger, Matt Dukes, James Scobie, Brent Cheshire, Hamish Fitchett, Danny Green, Matt Truman, Hayden Miller, Andrew Wheeler, Ben Dick.
Mid City Magic Lions
Lee Devereux, Laurence Antonio, Jordan Hibbard, James Humm, Olly Mccombie, Joseph McAuley, Micah Lepaio, Jivarne Joseph.
