The defending champion Chiefs have had the upper hand over the Crusaders, the seven-time title holders, over the past couple of years. Once the benchmark in New Zealand rugby, that mantle has shifted from Christchurch to Hamilton following the appointment of Dave Rennie and fellow coaches Wayne Smith and Tom Coventry.
The Chiefs have won their last two semifinals against the Crusaders in Hamilton. Both were extremely close-run things - last year they triumphed 20-19 in a thriller at Waikato Stadium before their comprehensive victory over the Brumbies at the same venue.
However, the Crusaders will take heart from their last result over their rivals at AMI Stadium, a 43-15 thrashing in the penultimate round which suggested they were on track to win their first title since 2008.
Sir John Kirwan begins his second season at the Blues with a match against the Highlanders in Dunedin, another fixture likely to be played against a backdrop of an extraordinary match in the preceding season. Rank outsiders following a horrific run over the first 15 weeks of the competition, Jamie Joseph's men powered to a 29-7 halftime lead after a surprisingly one-sided first half, only to have to dig deep to win 38-28 following a big comeback from the visitors.
The Chiefs have a bye in the third week and make their big trip in week five with a match against the Force in Perth followed by a tough South African double of the Bulls in Pretoria and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Blues, who host the Crusaders in Auckland in week two, travel to South Africa straight afterwards, playing the Bulls in Pretoria and Lions in Johannesburg.
A feature of the Chiefs' draw is the uncertainty over the venues for their home matches against the Blues and Waratahs. That is likely to be due to the Taranaki Rugby Union's switch in loyalties from the Hurricanes to the Chiefs. The Taranaki union is likely to want to host at least one of those matches at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium.
The Hurricanes begin with a tough match against the Sharks in Durban before an equally challenging encounter against the Stormers in Cape Town and a home match against last year's beaten finalists the Brumbies.
All three matches are big hurdles for the team and coach Mark Hammett, who will be under pressure to finally deliver at his franchise.
Like this year when the Australian sides began early due to the British and Irish Lions tour, the competition again suffers a staggered start, with the South African sides beginning a week early as their inbound tour in June doesn't align with New Zealand's and Australia's. The Boks host Wales in two tests and Scotland in one, although the South African Rugby Union is yet to confirm those arrangements.
For New Zealand the competition will halt due to the arrival of England for three tests. The Wallabies host France.
The first match of the competition is between the Cheetahs and Lions, who have replaced the Southern Kings, in Bloemfontein on February 15.
The final is scheduled for August 2.
Quick draw:
Blues: Highlanders (a), Crusaders (h), Bulls (a), Lions (a), Cheetahs (h), Highlanders (h), Brumbies (a), bye, Hurricanes (a), Waratahs (h), Reds (h), Chiefs (a), bye, Sharks (h), Hurricanes (h), Force (a), Crusaders (a), Chiefs (h).
Chiefs: Crusaders (a), Highlanders (h), bye, Stormers (h), Force (a), Bulls (a), Cheetahs (a), Rebels (h), Crusaders (h), Brumbies (a), Lions (h), Blues (h), bye, Hurricanes (a), Waratahs (h), Highlanders (a), Hurricanes (h), Blues (a).
Hurricanes: Sharks (a), Stormers (a), Brumbies (h), Cheetahs (h), Highlanders (a), Crusaders (a), Bulls (h), bye, Blues (h), Reds (h), Waratahs (a), Rebels (a), Highlanders (h), Chiefs (h) Blues (a), Crusaders (h), Chiefs (a), bye.
Crusaders: Chiefs (h), Blues (a), Stormers (h), Rebels (a), bye, Hurricanes (h), Lions (a), Cheetahs (a), Chiefs (a), bye, Brumbies (h), Reds (a), Sharks (h), Highlanders (a), Force (h), Hurricanes (a), Blues (h), Highlanders (h).
Highlanders: Blues (h), Chiefs (a), bye, Force (h), Hurricanes (h) Blues (a), Rebels (h), Bulls (h), bye, Sharks (a), Stormers (a), Lions (h), Hurricanes (a), Crusaders (h), Reds (a), Chiefs (h), Waratahs (a), Crusaders (a).
