Team-by-team preview of the new season of Super Rugby Pacific, which kicks off on Friday. (Listed in order of last season's finish on regular season standings):
WAIKATO CHIEFS
Best finish: Champions - 2012, 2013
Last year: Final (15-2)
Coach: Clayton McMillan
Captain: Luke Jacobson
With Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson leading a backline that ran rampant and a teak tough pack, the Chiefs were the best team in the competition last year until they ran into the Crusaders in the final. Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Brad Weber are among the players who have gone but plenty of quality remains in Hamilton.
CANTERBURY CRUSADERS
Best finish: Champions (14) - 1998-2000, 2002, 2005-6, 2008, 2017-2019, 2020-21 (Aotearoa), 2022, 2023
Last year: Champions (13-4)
Coach: Rob Penney
Captain: Scott Barrett
The loss of coach Scott Robertson to the All Blacks, Richie Mo'unga to Japan and Will Jordan to injury would test any team but the Christchurch-based Crusaders have faith in their winning culture and seemingly endless supply of young talent. Powerful centre Levi Aumua joins in pursuit of his All Blacks dream.
AUCKLAND BLUES
Best finish: Champions (4) - 1996, 1997, 2003, 2021 (Trans Tasman)
Last year: Semifinals (11-5)
Coach: Vern Cotter
Captain: Patrick Tuipulotu
Blues have been there or thereabouts for the last few seasons and have turned to former Scotland coach Cotter to keep them up there. Beauden Barrett's absence on sabbatical gives the exciting Stephen Perofeta the chance to press his test ambitions at flyhalf.
ACT BRUMBIES
Best finish: Champions - 2001, 2004
Last year: Semifinals (11-5)
Coach: Stephen Larkham
Captains: Allan Alaalatoa
The standard bearers for Australian rugby in the competition for the last few years, the Canberra-based outfit have kept largely intact the squad that was in the hunt for a spot in last year's title-decider until the last two minutes of their semifinal.
WELLINGTON HURRICANES
Best finish: Champions - 2016
Last year: Quarterfinals (9-6)
Coach: Clark Laidlaw
Captain: Brad Shields
With totemic No 8 Ardie Savea absent on sabbatical, new coach Laidlaw has turned to the returning England loose forward Shields to lead the team. TJ Perenara is fit again to tag-team with Cam Roigard at scrumhalf and Jordie Barrett remains a world class operator in the backline.
NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS
Best finish: Champions - 2014
Last year: Quarterfinals (6-9)
Coach: Darren Coleman
Captain: Jake Gordon
After their turnaround season of 2022, the Waratahs stalled last year and need to show some improvement if Coleman is to stay on as coach beyond the end of the season. Despite a tough start to their schedule, there is quality enough in Sydney to do that if their top players remain fit.
FIJIAN DRUA
Best finish: Seventh - 2023
Last year: Quarterfinals (6-9)
Coach: Mick Byrne
Captain: Meli Derenalagi
The Drua have a settled, tightly-knit squad and will be looking to kick on from last season's impressive run to the playoffs. To do that they will need to start performing as well on the road as they do at home.
QUEENSLAND REDS
Best finish: Champions - 2011
Last year: Quarterfinals (5-10)
Coach: Les Kiss
Co-captains: Tate McDermott, Liam Wright
The Reds had an impressive victory over the Waratahs in pre-season under new coach Kiss and, with the addition of former All Blacks props Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen to their pack, will be aiming to challenge for Australian supremacy at least.
OTAGO HIGHLANDERS
Best finish: Champions - 2015
Last year: Ninth (5-9)
Coach: Clarke Dermody
Captain: Billy Harmon
The weakest of the New Zealand teams for the last couple of seasons, the Highlanders will be hoping the return of former Japan coach Jamie Joseph as Head of Rugby can spark a return to the glory days of a decade ago even without Aaron Smith.
WESTERN FORCE
Best finish: 3rd (AU) - 2021
Last year: 10th (5-9)
Coach: Simon Cron
Captain: Jeremy Williams
The Perth-based outfit have a new halfback partnership in Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson and could surprise a few people in the highly-regarded Cron's second year in charge.
MELBOURNE REBELS
Best finish: 3rd (AU) - 2020
Last year: 11th (4-10)
Coach: Kevin Foote
Captain: Rob Leota
The Rebels are guaranteed to finish the season despite being in administration. On the field, the addition of Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou to an already strong group gives them a chance of making a big impression in what is probably their last season.
MOANA PASIFIKA
Best finish: 12th - 2022, 2023
Last year: 12th (1-13)
Coach: Tana Umaga
Captain: James Lay
The Auckland-based side, who have managed three wins in two seasons, will be looking for better returns under new coach Umaga. Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea was one of a raft new recruits and joins a hugely experienced but rapidly ageing core.