Call it what you want - the dance of the desperates, the fight to the death, the survival of the fittest - but this year's national championship is the ultimate in cut-throat competition.
Last year the New Zealand Rugby Union was set to demote four teams from the division, but backtracked at the last minute to come up with a new formula.
This year, there will be no changes or second thoughts, and it will be all about what takes place on the paddock in the rechristened ITM Cup.
The top seven teams in this year's competition will play in the premiership next year while the other seven sides will compete in the lower championship.
So for teams with major ambitions - and that is all 14 - the onus is on making that top seven.
That has led to players switching unions as provinces like Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay get the chequebook out and bolster their sides.
Bay of Plenty, which was a couple of months away from insolvency a few years ago, has signed more than half a dozen players, while cellar-dweller Counties-Manukau has shipped in former All Black captain Tana Umaga.
But for all the player movements, the finalists for the past two years - Canterbury and Wellington - still loom as the teams to beat.
Canterbury has lost a few players, especially in the locking department, but still has a lot of depth, and will be expecting big things from halfback Andy Ellis and first five-eighth Colin Slade.
Wellington has lost the last two finals and will be hoping it is third time lucky.
The Lions have good depth but need to get some consistency, and not peak too early.
Halfback Alby Mathewson is a key for them.
Hawkes Bay and Southland were the other semifinalists last year and they are bound to be among it again this year, though both sides have tougher draws this season.
Auckland and Waikato just missed out on the top four last year and have bolstered their ranks.
Taranaki has also got the chequebook out with new players arriving in the form of halfback Tyson Keats, centre George Pisi and lock James Broadhurst.
Chris Jack has returned to captain Tasman but the Makos have suffered some big losses with halfback Kahn Fotuali'i moving to Hawkes Bay and Andrew Goodman off to Japan.
Manawatu will again be competitive, although it has lost a couple of key players through injury already.
After a poor effort last year North Harbour can only get better and will be looking to Luke McAlister to help move up the table.
Northland will be competitive and has veteran first five-eighth David Holwell turning out again.
Counties-Manukau finished the bottom of the heap last year and, though its backs will be quick and dangerous, they may struggle to get enough ball.
