Skysports.com looks ahead to the kick-off of the new Magners League season.
Rivals set to battle it out for Munster's title
While the Guinness Premiership has found itself facing all sorts of questions about integrity following the turmoil at Bath and the Bloodgate scandal, the Magners League has quietly gone about its business in the summer.
That has not stopped the clubs luring across some of the game's leading players - with Jean de Villiers, Casey Laulala, Jerry Collins and Sam Norton-Knight among those world-class stars set to appear in this season's competition.
And this year's Magners League will boast 37 players who have represented the British and Irish Lions, with the returns of Chris Cusiter, Nathan Hines and Gareth Cooper.
For the first time, the Magners League will operate a play-off system - with the top-four sides set to battle it out for the title.
Defending champions Munster and Heineken Cup winners Leinster will be among the favourites again, while Edinburgh will be pushing to build on their second-placed finish last year.
Ospreys have a wealth of talent at their disposal, while Cardiff proved in the Heineken Cup that they are a match for the best in Europe.
And skysports.com gives a rundown of each of the club's chances of success in 2009-10.
Cardiff Blues
Dai Young will look back on last season wondering what could have been. Having conquered all before them in Europe, the Blues were eventually knocked out in a penalty shoot-out against Leicester.
And despite recording famous wins away at Biarritz and Gloucester - and winning the EDF Energy Cup - Cardiff's form in the league was too erratic.
They managed just three wins away from home, while defeats in their final two games cost them a place in the top-five.
And Young will have to work on his side's consistency if they are to challenge for the play-offs this time around.
He has recruited well with Gareth Cooper, Dafydd James, Gavin Evans and Darren Morris set to add some much needed experience, while Australia fly-half Sam Norton-Knight and All Black Casey Lualala could be the deals of the summer.
Cardiff have lost Jamie Robinson (Toulon) and Nicky Robinson (Gloucester), but with the likes of Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin and Leigh Halfpenny they have one of the best backlines in the league.
Connacht
It is five seasons since Connacht last finished outside the bottom two of the table - and it is difficult to see them breaking that run this season.
Coach Michael Bradley has had to trim back his squad and although he has brought in eight new players, the squad lacks the quality to compete.
Former New Zealand Under-21 fly-half Miah Nikora heads out the new arrivals, with wingers Thomas Timani and Tiernan O'Halloran, centres Brian Touhy and Eoin Griffin, prop Jamie Hagan, No.8 Mike McComish and second row Bernie Upton also arriving at the club.
Centre Keith Matthews and hooker Sean Cronin are quality operators, while Gavin Duffy, captain John Muldoon and Ian Keatley also earned international calls in the summer.
However when some of their rivals can name full starting XVs made up of internationals, Connacht are always going to be up against it.
Ultimately Bradley will be looking for his squad to develop and improve on their record of just four wins from 18 league games.
Edinburgh
The pressure will be on new coach Rob Moffat to repeat the exploits of former boss Andy Robinson.
Having taken over in 2007, Robinson helped guide Edinburgh to
