Alexandra
Coaches: Tony Sanders and Shane Ryan.
It is a big year for Alexandra with its 125th celebrations happening at Anzac weekend. Player numbers have been up on previous years, which has added to its chances this season.
Halfback and club stalwart Shaun O'Neill will captain the side and, with the demise of Clyde-Earnscleugh, standout hooker Blair van der Voort has returned. Another key gain for the club is former Kaikorai winger Bevan Passmore.
The White Horse Cup encounter this weekend will give a solid gauge of the side's potential.
Arrowtown
Coaches: Drew Carmody and Aidan Winter.
Beaten finalist Arrowtown is set to be one of the front-runners again this year, with the majority of its squad back.
Lawrence Wadham and brothers Christian and Gareth Jones have returned and will provide stability in the backline, while the Arrowtown forwards, led by captain Ben Chisholm, will be a strength.
Former Cromwell and Southland club players Charlie Tiko and Taka Colati are handy additions but perhaps the biggest gain is the return from Germany of former captain Aidan Winter, who is also helping out with coaching.
Cromwell
Coaches: Jason Clarke and Blake McPhee.
Cromwell did not really push on from its excellent 125th season in 2013, but was competitive in the top half of the draw. It has lost no fewer than eight frontline players, including captain Ant Dickey, to retirement, but boasts some rising talent.
Hooker Cory Winstanley takes over the captaincy and will play in the loose, while five-eighth Hayden Todd will lead the backs. A newcomer is Canterbury under-20 No 8 Daniel Hurring.
Maniototo
Coaches: Andrew Hore and Charlie Hore.
Defending champion and White Horse Cup holder Maniototo has had large player numbers during the preseason.
The side has picked up some younger players but will rely on the Dowling brothers in the pack, and Mitchell Lake and Thomas Huddleston in the backs.
Fullback Quinton Smith has returned from Lawrence, but Maniototo has lost dynamic flankers AJ Paton and Nathan Huddleston and centre Matt Earl.
Matakanui Combined
Coaches: Steve Hore and Richie Flannery.
Matakanui has been in a rebuilding phase for the past couple of seasons, with mixed results. New coach Steve Hore has a strong core of players back and a few new faces.
Willie Lake will lead the backline and a useful addition is former Roxburgh fullback Will Stuart. Prop Nic Gee will captain the side and, along with front-row partner Tristan Flannery, will lead by example.
Roxburgh
Coaches: Tony Stevens and Lance Davies.
Roxburgh has lost eight of its starting players from last season but will still be looking to make the top half of the draw when it splits.
Winger/fullback Bronson Tumai is a big loss. Key players this year will include promising centre Cruze Kingi, halfback Aaron Watson and hooker Chris Pemberton.
Upper Clutha A
Coaches: Hamish McKay and Richard Pledger.
The Wanaka-based side has had expert instruction from All Blacks Isaac Ross and Simon Maling in pre-season and has had up to 30 players at trainings.
The side has picked up former Southland flanker Dion Bates, along with halfback Brendan Cairns, who has returned from a stint overseas. Ben Purvis will be a key at the back and midfielder Alan Dunn will provide punch. Talented lock Tom Dwyer and young flanker Fraser Dowling are both unavailable.
Upper Clutha B
Coaches: Jason Dickson and Rod Bowler.
Upper Clutha's second-tier side caused a couple of upsets last season and is looking to do that again.
It will be in contention to win the bottom division, and with players like front-rower Mike Boyd and loosie Hamish Stewart leading the way, it will be competitive.
Wakatipu
Coaches: Justin Pewhairangi and Brett Anderson.
Wakatipu has won just about everything possible in the last four seasons but 2014 was an up-and-down year for the Queenstown side.
Key forwards Henry Youngman, Toi Roberts and Inoke Vi have all returned and winger Rhys Collins is back after a broken leg. Centre Danny King is in doubt this season and hooker Jeremy Drake has relocated.
Wakatipu Wanderers
Coaches: Merv Ioake and Kurt Johnston.
The Wanderers had a strong start last year but numbers fell off as the season progressed.
Halfback Karlo Aggerholm will captain the side and winger Shaun Bowman will provide good energy in the backs. Prop Shane Burne and No 8 Josh Railton will be key men in the pack.
