Roslyn has reached the top three of the competition over the last five years, but last season scored only once against coach Steve Fleming's side, which rammed 11 goals into Roslyn's net over three matches.
That solo goal was scored by Terry Boylan, then player-coach for Roslyn, who has since transferred to Caversham, along with striker Tony Hancock and Harley Rodeka.
Clearly, Roslyn's new coaching duo of James Vaughan and Andy Duncan has a task on its hand to rebuild a team that also lost top scorer Ben Keat and Sean Brand.
Caversham's 5-0 broadside over Northern last week suggests that its forward line is as dangerous as ever, despite losing Englishman Dave Dugdale.
Dunedin Technical finished second in the league last year, but went on to win the South Island championship via play-offs that included Christchurch sides and Caversham.
Technical beat the Southland Spirit 3-0 in Invercargill last week and coach Mike Fridge was pleased to earn a clean sheet as well as the three competition points.
If the race between Caversham and Technical is similar to last year, even at this early stage, goal difference is likely to be important.
Last year, Caversham finished three points clear at the top of the league, scoring 64 goals and conceding 12, while Technical scored 56 and conceded eight.
Northern faces Technical in the only early kick-off at the Caledonian Ground, and coach John Wilkinson will look for a tighter defensive performance from his Northern team after losing 2-0 to Green Island last week.
Also licking wounds after last week, University has a more achievable task in playing Spirit at the Caledonian, where new Invercargill striker Mark Caldow will be on view.
At Sunnyvale, the derby features unbeaten Green Island and Mosgiel. Both have a spread of promising young players.
It is significant in these days of scarce strikers that defender Mike Abbott scored a brilliant late winner for Mosgiel last week, and perennial poacher Phil Kelly scored for the Plainsmen, aiming to better his tally of 10 from last year.
Central Otago's autumn colours will be on view in Alexandra, where Grants Braes plays on neutral ground against Queenstown Rovers.
Alan Laidler looks to have a more balanced Braes side this year, and as usual Rovers coach Jamie Whitmarsh will have a mix of talented overseas players available, not least striker Carlos Hermann, who scored his nine goals in bunches of two and three last season.
