The usual suspects look like being the main threats from across the Tasman. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the five Australian Super 15 sides.
They started with just three teams in the competition and one of them, the Brumbies, were seen as just an assembly of has-beens, cast-offs and never will-bes.
But the Canberra based side blew that suggestion apart with almost instant success and Australian rugby has been thinking big ever since.
They now have the same number of teams as South Africa and New Zealand, despite having far fewer playing numbers.
That lack of depth is starting to bite but the Australians do not seem to mind, especially if you are from Queensland, which won the title last season.
Everyone, it seems, wants to jump on the Reds bandwagon.
After having just 5000 season members a couple of years ago, membership has soared to more than 25,000 this season.
But with winning comes higher expectation and it will be interesting to see whether the Queensland players can handle the intense pressure and spotlight.
Quade Cooper's knee injury means he will be out of action for at least the first two months of the competition and the side is looking to former North Harbour pivot Mike Harris to direct it around the park.
Halfback Will Genia will obviously be a key, while its tight five will have to front up again.
The Rebels have got out the cheque book and signed talented backs James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale.
This pair, along with the likes of Cooper Vuna and Mark Gerrard, will form an exciting backline. But the big question remains on whether they will get any ball.
There are plenty of former internationals in the team and the legs may not be what they once were.
Damien Hill takes over as coach from Rod McQueen and the side needs to shore up its defence if it wants to get rid of the wooden spoon it picked up last year.
Up the road, the Waratahs will again be competitive but have had a couple of major losses from the ranks.
Veteran skipper Phil Waugh has hung up the boots and leaves a big hole to fill, along with prop Al Baxter.
But Rocky Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper have joined from the Brumbies, while former Cheetahs halfback Sarel Pretorius has joined as an overseas player.
The side, which has a new coach in former Wallabies rake Michael Foley, is always good at home and made the playoffs last year, without being totally convincing.
The Brumbies will be looking back fondly on the great days of when they used to contest titles.
A title looks a distant dream this year after losing a dozen starters from last year.
New coach Jake White has lost a raft of backs and the forwards are solid but hardly spectacular.
The side does have a quality front row, led by hooker Stephen Moore - who has picked up an injury already - but nothing screams out about the side.
The Force has a solid loose forward trio, a decent first five-eighth in James Stannard, and a good fullback - when he is not injured - in Cameron Shepherd.
But losing O'Connor and pocket rocket winger David Smith may be too much for the Perth-based side.
