The Central Otago competition looks wide open this year and who will get into the winner's circle is hard to pick.
Alexandra won the competition last year when it upset Maniototo in the final.
There are nine teams in the competition, which unfortunately brings a bye, as clubs opted not to have a section made up of second sides.
With two full rounds to be played before the finals, the season had to start before Easter to fit all the games in.
Alexandra
Coaches: Wayne Soper and Colin O'Neill (new).
Last year: Winners.
Key players: First five-eighth Daniel Hurley, halfback Shaun O'Neill, loose forward Shane Harrex, No 8 Dave Lilley.
Alexandra had a year to remember in 2015, celebrating its 125-year anniversary and winning the Central Otago banner. It timed its run well, playing its best game in the final.
Coach Tony Sanders has moved on. He has been replaced by the experienced Wayne Soper and Colin O'Neill.
A raft of players have left, with halfback Jai Baxter going back to his original club at Clyde-Earnscleugh and a couple of others have gone with him. Some Irish imports have also moved on, while key midfielder Bevan Passmore has hung up the boots and his experience will be missed.
But the side has some depth and will be looking to string some wins together.
Maniototo
Coaches: Andrew Hore, Charlie Hore, Hamish Wilson (new).
Last year: Finalist.
Key players: Lock Scott Sharpin, halfback Duncan Elliot, midfielder Mitchell Lake.
The Maniototo Maggots will have plenty of motivation to win it all this year.
The side has the White Horse Cup in the trophy cabinet and will be keen to hold on to it. Maniototo went through last season in impressive form on top of the table all year but did not turn up in the final.
Andrew and Charlie Hore will coach the side, with Hamish Wilson assisting. Charlie Hore does not intend to play but his younger brother will turn out for the side.
It will again be hard to beat at home and has plenty of experience in key areas.
Arrowtown
Coach: Richie Anderson (new).
Last year: Semifinals.
Key players: Loose forward Aiden Winter, lock John Morrison, first five-eighth Lawrence Wadham.
It is all change at Arrowtown although there is the odd familiar face.
The side has lost 16 players from last year, and will be situated at the Events Centre in Frankton this year as Jack Reid Park gets renovated.
Richie Anderson is back as coach and he will be looking to make an impact with the side.
Brothers Christian and Garth Jones will help the backline which has plenty of vigour, while Aiden Winter will give his usual top-class effort every weekend.
The side replaced some veterans with new talent but much will still depend on the record at home.
Anderson said former Hurricanes and Otago flanker Adam Hill had bought a farm in the Wakatipu region and was helping out at training but will not play as he recovers from a neck injury.
Wakatipu
Coach: Justin Pewhairangi (second year).
Last year: Semifinals.
Key players: Lock/loose forward Raf Tuhura, fullback Chris Young, second five-eighth Kapa Moeke.
With Queenstown growing quickly the rugby club is benefiting and there have been good numbers at pre-season training. The club's second side, the Wanderers, will play in the third division of the Southland club competition.
Coach Justin Pewhairangi said the side had lots of young New Zealanders who were working in the town and not as many overseas players.
When the snow comes numbers sometimes drop off but Pewhairangi said most players were committed to the team.
Loose forward and lock Raf Tuhura will skipper the side and fullback Chris Young will kick the goals.
Flanker Tom Ria is an interesting newcomer from Hamilton Boys' High School. Rhys Collins will not play as he travels overseas and recovers from a knee injury.
Upper Clutha
Coaches: Paul Glynn, Richard Pledger.
Last year: Fifth
Key players: Fullback-centre Ben Purvis, loose forward George Read, tight forward Chris Harris.
Upper Clutha is looking for a slice of luck on the injury front this year.
Last season it won eight in a row but as players went down with injury the holes started to appear and it could not make the semifinals.
The side is not putting forward a second side which has resulted in big numbers at training, with more than 30 players to pick from.
Paul Glynn joins Richard Pledger in the coaching ranks and will look to keep the side going forward.
Captain Tom Hudson has retired, while front rower Blair Kennedy has gone overseas.
Roxburgh
Coach: Lance Davies (second year).
Last year: Sixth.
Key players: No 8 Shaun Taiti, openside flanker Rowan Tumai, prop Chris Pemberton.
Roxburgh is looking to continue to improve, wanting to consolidate its position in the competition it rejoined in 2012 after a long spell away.
Coach Lance Davies, a former first-class prop for Northland, does not intend to play but he may put the boots on when needed.
The team is mainly the same as last year and there have been minimal changes.
Davies just wants the side to keep on improving and work well together.
Glen Watson is a solid loose forward, while Englishman Pete Willis is an interesting newcomer in the inside backs.
Centre Cruz Kingi offers plenty of pace out wide while Kyle Ellison and Kyle Wells will work hard up front.
Matakanui Combined
Coach: Steve Hore (second year), Hamish Cavanagh.
Last year: Seventh.
Key players: Front rower Mike Phillips, midfielder Scott Milne.
Matakanui has a good core of its side back from last year and has had good numbers at training. There is plenty of hardness up front and Scott Milne leads a backline which will try to take the opportunities which come along.
Hamish Cavanagh joins Steve Hore in the coaching ranks. Hore is in his second year as the head coach.
One interesting newcomer is loose forward Dave Kenny, who used to play for Lawrence and has played for Otago Country.
He should add some steel to the Matakanui Combined pack.
Cromwell
Coach: Paul Tait, Matthew Ludemann (new).
Last year: Eighth.
Key players: Loose forward Daniel Harvey, centre Charlie Tiko, lock Travis Mitchell.
Cromwell has plenty of players and if competition brings out the best in everyone then the side should be in good shape.
The team has been training since January and won a 10-a-side competition in the pre-season at Clyde.
The side had nearly 40 players to pick from and there was talk of entering a second side to eliminate the bye but it did not happen.
New coaches Paul Tait and Matthew Ludemann want the side to keep improving and be competitive each game. Injuries and bad luck had Cromwell drop out of the reckoning last year and the club is keen to make sure that does not happen again.
Clyde-Earnscleugh
Coach: Corey Crosbie, Keith Robertson (new).
Last year: Did not compete.
Key players: Halfback Jai Baxter, lock Michael Harvey, first five-eighth Matt Te Tana.
It is welcome back for Clyde-Earnscleugh after the side missed the 2015 season. It lacked front rowers last year which killed off its chances but it has plenty of depth this year, coach Corey Crosbie says.
Crosbie used to play for the side but is now retired and will call on veteran coach Keith Robertson to help him out.
One bonus for the side is the return of Matt Te Tana, who, after playing a few years in Dunedin for Kaikorai, has returned home. He should be able to steer the side around the park.
