We know Ryan Fox is the sort of male version of Lydia Ko, Michael Hendry and Mark Brown are out of form but play well here, and Josh Geary is ready for a breakthrough win.
But we do not know which unheralded Australian will choose this week to fire, nor how some of the Japan Tour golfers will perform.
To put it bluntly, tipping a winner of the $1 million New Zealand Open at The Hills and Millbrook is about as simple as predicting the weather in these parts.
''You're going to have to play very well this week to win,'' Fox told the Otago Daily Times.
''It's a really good field. The Japanese boys might go under he radar with the public but a lot of good players have come down for this.''
Fox has quickly become the New Zealand golfer, outside of the spectacular Ko, most want to watch.
He is no longer ''just'' the son of All Black great Grant Fox. He is a big-hitting, strong-finishing golfer with his peak years approaching.
He did well at the BMW-sponsored Open last year, finishing tied for sixth at 11-under-par, and is prepared for what The Hills, following his opening round at Millbrook, will offer.
''It's a course where, if you play well, you get a lot of opportunities. Especially on the back nine, where you can use a lot of slopes and get the ball close to the hole for some easy birdie chances.
''But if you're not quite there with your irons, you can make the course play hard. If you can be really precise, you can hit a really low score.''
Fox will be cautious of length, particularly on the front nine, where he will likely use the driver on just one hole, the eighth. He will be surrounded by a couple of big hitters - his playing partner is West Indies cricket great Sir Viv Richards, and his group also includes Sir Ian Botham.
For a change, he will not have his famous father carrying his bags this week.
''Dad's just a supporter this week. I don't think he'll enjoy it. He likes some sense of control and he can't get that on the outside.''
At the other end of the scale, in age and form, to Fox is perennial contender Mark Brown.
He finished runner-up in the Open last year, and also finished second at a PGA pro-am at The Hills.
But if you are only as good as your last round, Brown is ... not among the favourites. He blew out to 82 in the final round of the New Zealand PGA to continue what, for a player of his class, has been a rough patch.
''It was just a continuation of stuff that's been going on,'' Brown said.
''Things haven't been up to scratch, technically or mentally. I don't have much form leading into this.''
Brown has a leaner schedule this year and has found it hard to build confidence.
But he is too good not to be considered a leading contender to break a long drought - a New Zealander has not won the Open since Dunedin's Mahal Pearce in 2003.
Brown will again be paired in the pro-am with former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, who was a little wide-eyed last year when he found himself in the title-chasing group.
''Poor old Flem ended up in the final group. He was probably a bit nervous at first but what a great experience for him.''
Brown has ticked off a couple of momentous numbers in the last few months.
After achieving golf nirvana with a 59 on the Charles Tour, he turned 40 last month.
''That's just a reminder how quickly the years go by in this game. Not too long ago I was considered a young fellow.
''I'm reasonably fit and healthy, and I think I've got quite a few years left. I hope to keep the desire for the game. That can be the hardest thing.''
A New Zealand win would be popular on Sunday but, as usual, the locals are heavily outnumbered by the battalion of lean, tanned and hungry young men from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Cameron Smith appears to be the next big thing, Matthew Millar is chasing a rare double after banking a New Zealand PGA win, Nick Cullen is probably still on a high after pipping Adam Scott at the Australian Masters, and Steven Jeffress is just back from the World Golf Championships at Doral.
Then there is the beefed-up Japanese contingent to consider. They did not really feature last year, but Toshinori Muto and Hiroshi Iwata and company have ability that far outweighs their profile in this part of the world.
There are also eight former winners - including New Zealanders David Smail, Greg Turner and Michael Long - in the field.
After that? Pin the draw to a wall and throw a dart. This tournament is anybody's.
Video www.odt.co.nz
