Dunedin Technical ended a decade of dominance by Caversham in the Footballsouth Premier League last year, and coach Mike Fridge aims to do it again.
The league starts today with two matches at the Caledonian ground. At 12.45pm, University plays Caversham and at 2.45pm, Dunedin Technical plays Roslyn-Wakari.
Four of last year's top five finishers locking horns suggests good value for serious spectators, and will be an immediate test of fitness and preparedness.
No pre-season tournament, no easing in - even referees Jeff Clamp and Peter Faithfull will have to hit the ground running.
Technical coach Fridge has lost several of last year's squad, but in star striker Aaron Burgess he has an incisive cutting edge. Which team would not relish a striker that scored 40 goals (cup and league) last year to win the Golden Boot?
At the other end, Technical has signed Uruguayan keeper Oswaldo Rodriguez, who played with merit for Otago United in the national league, and has now moved north from Invercargill, along with Scots defender Craig Ferguson.
Invercargill's Spirit FC has not entered the FPL this year, leaving the competition lopsided at nine teams, and requiring a bye each week.
Roslyn also has a few players returning from Otago United, but coach Colin Thom will find creative midfielder Mike Cunningham and attacking fullback Tom Connor hard to replace.
Without a single striker in the top 14 league goal-scorers last year, Roslyn could lack finishing power again, and Thom will hope that some leaders will emerge to give the team focus.
Caversham will also have players missing. Darren Overton, especially, will be missed for his all-round craft and experience, but coach Richard Murray still has a tidy squad that will be enhanced by keeper Liam Little, Pablo Alvarez and Jude Fitzpatrick.
An immediate acid test for Caversham will be one of the better University sides to emerge for some time. Coach Luiz Uehara has long-range plans for the club, which hopes to improve on last year's fifth place.
Certainly, the acquisition of Steven Blackmoore and the magical skills of Guilherme Melo will unlock a few opposition defences.
Third-placed Mosgiel has a wild-card start, travelling to play Queenstown in Central Otago. Rovers is close to a one-man club, with Steve Henderson performing most roles from secretary to goalkeeper.
Northern finished below Queenstown last year, but coach Steve Brook is optimistic his squad can improve this year.
Opponent Grants Braes gets no home advantage, since the game with Northern has been shifted to Tahuna Park.
Braes is still coached by Allan Laidler but the club has appointed two directors of football, veteran Robbie Mitchell and newcomer Dave Shemilt, a highly qualified coach from the United Sates.
Green Island has this week's bye, although there is an option for the bye team to play Neil Mackenzie's youth development team as it prepares for the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland in July.
