Robyn Broughton
Pulse coach
Entering her fourth season in charge of the Wellington-based franchise and has yet to make a playoff appearance.
She guided the Southern Steel to fourth in both 2009 and 2010, and you get the feeling the coming season is her best chance to get the Pulse into the playoffs.
With six current and former Silver Ferns in the 12-strong squad, Broughton has arguably one of the most rounded squads in the competition at her disposal.
The revamped competition means three New Zealand teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, and the top seed is certain to play in one of the semifinals.
Broughton guided her side to sixth a year ago, but there is no doubt it is time she helps the Pulse book its first ticket to the playoffs.
Debbie Fuller
Mystics coach
Another coach blessed with an outstanding squad on paper, but one that has not clicked in recent years.
Fuller coached the team to second (2011)and third (2012), before Ruth Aitken took over the reins in a disastrous 2013 campaign. Fuller returned last year, but could only guide the star-studded team to seventh place.
There are nine current or former internationals on the roster, and there will be no excuse for the Mystics not to finish in the top three of the New Zealand conference.
With Cathrine Latu and Maria Tutaia combining in the shooting circle, there should be no problems at the offensive end, while the exciting Temalisi Fakahokotau features at the other end of the court.
The Mystics have almost been as disappointing as their rugby equivalent, the Blues, in the past few years, but perhaps that will change this year.
Temalisi Fakahokotau
Mystics defender
Burst on to the netball scene last year on the back of an impressive first season with the Mystics, but can she avoid the second-year blues?
The 20-year-old was brought into the Silver Ferns squad for the Constellation Cup series against the Australian Diamonds last year, and debuted against the world champions on October 15, in Auckland.
Fakahokotau still has a lot of developing to do, and needs to curb her aggressiveness.
The 1.82m defender made some big defensive stops in her two appearances for the Silver Ferns, but had to be substituted after being repeatedly penalised.
Fakahokotau's play is now on film and she will not have the element of surprise this year.
However, if she can overcome that and build on what she did a year ago, the Mystics will benefit.
Bailey Mes
Tactix shooter
Mes, who has moved south after five years with the Mystics, is extremely athletic and caught the eye of Silver Ferns selectors in 2012, when she debuted against South Africa.
She got plenty of minutes for the national side last season, but really struggled to find her range.
The 1.87m shooter landed just 39 of her 65 shots (60%) against Australia in the Constellation Cup series, and was guilty of rushing her stroke under the rim.
She also struggled against Samoa and Fiji in the Oceania series last month, and will be feeling the pressure to start well for her new franchise.
The Tactix finished last a season ago, the fourth time it has claimed the wooden spoon in five seasons.
If that is to change, Mes will need to wave goodbye to the shaky shooting and start finding the net more consistently.
Joline Henry
Pulse midcourter
Henry was not quite at her best last season. The 32-year-old, who generally plays wing defence, could be feeling some extra heat to perform and keep her spot in the national side.
With the World Cup in Australia in August looming, Henry is one of a few veterans who could be looking over their shoulders.
Henry, who has made 91 appearances for the Ferns since debuting against Australia in 2004, was more hesitant than usual last year, and was part of the Ferns midcourt which struggled with turnovers and was far from its fluent best.
However, a good, confident boosting season with the Pulse and Henry might yet get her mojo back.
