More than one club is searching for strikers as winter football resumes this weekend.
Out of action because of a leg fracture received during Otago United's campaign, Aaron Burgess leaves more of a black hole than a gap in Dunedin Technical's attack.
He scored 25 goals in last year's premier league and three more in the Chatham Cup. Since he returned from Australia in 2008, he has netted 152 goals for Technical and won five Golden Boot awards.
Burgess is now recovering well from his leg injury, despite additional problems when a blood clot formed in his lung due to his immobilisation in a full-leg cast.''
I will not be playing in the coming season,'' said the striker, who also has a business to run, and a wife with whom he is expecting another child soon.
Clearly, Burgess will be badly missed by Technical coach Mike Fridge, who still hopes to improve on last year's second place.
Under new coach Tim Horner, Caversham aims to build on a blend of experience that ranges from keeper Liam Little and defenders Craig Ferguson and Mike Smith through midfield captain Seamus Ryder and striker Ant Hancock.
Caversham also has its share of new signings, such as centreback Abel Banda, arriving in Dunedin for university, who will push the established players for starting positions.
Roslyn-Wakari coach Colin Thom was unhappy with last year's third placing.
He rates this year's squad as better balanced.
The addition of two Brazilians, goalkeeper Danniel Becheri and creative midfielder Guilherme Melo, will add interest, and other new signings such as Cam Atwood and Curtis Day are sure to push for starting positions.
Green Island has rung the changes, swapping coach Malcolm Fleming - who is off to work in Perth with the Burnley coaching school - and new coach Craig Doble. Doble is a Uefa-qualified coach who previously worked at Bolton Wanderers before moving to Burnley's Academy in Perth in 2011.
Green Island has already picked up three points, beating Northern in that club's jubilee match. The Island played controlled football in a 2-0 win and fielded some impressive young players.
Mosgiel, with its centennial celebrations set for April 25-27, will be keen to get points on the board to spark the celebrations.
Luke Burgess (Christchurch) and Curtis Day (Roslyn) have moved on. Ant Mallon (Grants Braes), Andres Hirczy (University), Cody Brooks and Matt Kelly (Milk Cup) are newcomers.
University coach Luiz Uehara's plan for fluid football was partially achieved last season and the students went tantalisingly close to achieving a record finish before finishing sixth.
Queenstown stalwart Steve Henderson will again do his imitation of a one-man band. He is a club factotum handling administration, finance and coaching, and he also fills any gaps in the outfield. After a poor start last year, the Rovers finished with a rush.
After a few years with Steve Brook at the helm, Northern is now coached by Murray Devereux. He has a core that can be obdurate behind the ball, and new young players provide pace, so there is a chance to improve on last year's second-bottom finish.
Grants Braes coach Alan Laidler may have a stiff neck from looking up at other teams in the league, but he is the consummate clubman, blessed with enthusiasm and optimism.
Braes finished bottom last year, but Laidler's target is to repeat seasons 2010 and 2011, when his side finished above Green Island. If powerful former professional Joh Mpondo inspires disciplined defence, and Shannon Cox and company can score, Braes may surprise.
The return of Invercargill Old Boys will freshen southern football. Under coach Ignacio Sande, Old Boys had a three-year period of local dominance, and now faces a new challenge.
There will be a few new faces, notably William Silva, a strong midfielder from Uruguay. He heads a contingent of imports who will team up with the better-known talents of Scots midfielder Barry Gardiner and goalkeeper Chris Marsh, who returns after winning the Northern League with Bay Olympic.
Footballsouth Premier League squads
Dunedin Technical
Michael Walker, Tom Batty, David Hayman, Liam Lockhart, Andrew Douglas, Matt Joy, George Milne, Justin Flaws, Tim McLennan, Richard Smith, Victor da Costa, Alistair Rickerby, Tim Stokes, Brad Rodden, Tom Beauchamp, Nikita Meglinski, Tom Houghton, Ross Howard, Josh Stewart, Tetsuya Michael.
Caversham
Liam Little, Craig Ferguson, Simon Ward, Abel Banda, Mike Smith, Mitchell Carter, Andrew Ridden, Seamus Ryder, Ryan Hickling, Ant Hancock, Seb Ninness, Liam Nott, Evan Jones, Tom Merrilees, William Smith, Callum Flaws, Tim Horner.
Roslyn-Wakari
Danniel Becheri, Fionn Cahill Fleury, Geordie Mansford, Tyrell Barringer Tahiri, James Watson, Chris Fernando, Mike Sannum, Curtis Day, Cam Attwood, Sam Mepham, Aajay Cunningham, Guilherme Melo, James Govan, Damian Foster, Thomas Connor, Fraser Cameron, Peter Evans.
Green Island
Matt McKay, Sean Flett, Jesse Smith, Dan Rutter, Liam Dungey, Cameron McPhail, Taylor McCormack, Matt Mitchell, Craig Buddle, Daniel Morris, Jack Kirkwood, Joel Stevens, Josh Dijkstra, Jesse Wright, Lewis Jackson, Nathan Gunn, Scott Gannon.
Mosgiel
Tom Stevens, Ant Mallen, Cam Will, Steve Cromb, Aaron Corkill, Tom Bekkers, Mike Abbott, Kris Wheeler, Matt Kelly, Tim Dunn, Phil Kelly, Andreas Hirczy, Dave Bainbridge, Cody Brook, Regan Coldicott, Shane Danielson, Ryan McGarry, Morgan Day, Michael McGarry, Nicky Wheeler.
University
Jefferson Potrich, Tom Morley, Peter Overmire, Todd Marwick, Logan Wrightewebb, Henry Flood, Frank Mellace, Rupert Mark, Peter Rae, Ifeanyi Unamadu, Jeremy Fong, Samuel Dabous, Sam Brailsford, Josh Jones, Max Gunn, Nic Gunn, Liam Kennedy, Zane Officer.
Queenstown
Steve Henderson, Cormac O'Brien, Luke Baldock, Jay Hardwick, Graham Pickering, Martine Guich, Oli Little, Ian Lowe, Richard Ghent, Kieran Stevenson, Ramsi Toumi, Patricio Villalonga, Carlos Mayer, Pedro Neto.
Northern
Blair Brown, Paolo Timajo, Jeff Satterthwaite, Mike Scott, Campbell Higgins, Norbert Dreyer, Tom MacLean, Craig Wilkinson, Darren Hart, Aaron Wilkinson, Pierre Jones, Angus Milne, Seamus Gray, Konyo Yoon, Emmet MacLaurin, James O'Callaghan, Simon Alder, Dorje Passang, Gilbert Bowden, Murray Devereux.
Grants Braes
Luka Velebit, Nick Paterson, Ried Huillman, Chris Stenvall, Joh Mpondo, Kris Sweetapple, Patrick Ebanda, Alijan Rajabai, Sam Martin, Shannon Cox, Blake William List, Alfred Koudayah, Jason Cocker, Roeland Buyse, Rob Gibson, Ben Purton, Fraser Body.
Old Boys
Chris Marsh, Hamish Low, Jeremy Dix, Kieran Van Loon, Jack Boland, Andrew Cunningham, Barra Toubat, William Silva, Robbie Goodwille, Scott Kiddey, Raul Loazia, Bob Cox, Jason McMath, James Tucker, Barry Gardiner, Atain Halley, Jono Ross, Paul Monteith.
