Once again Waikato are favourites.
Having won the championship three times in the past four years, Waikato will again field an enviable lineup.
At the forefront is Silver Fern shooting ace Irene van Dyk, whose dominance under the hoop automatically provides opposing teams with a headache.
Veterans Amigene Metcalfe and Jenny-May Coffin will give as good as they get in the midcourt, and 18-year-old Laura Langman - who forced her way into the New Zealand squad at this tournament last year - is expected to provide plenty of hustle at wing defence.
Defensively, Waikato have three workhorses in Joline Henry, Leana du Plooy and Casey Williams.
New to the side are former Flames shooter Chantelle Ngaia, who has moved to Hamilton, former Cook Islands representative Melisa Fotu and former Waikato under-21 player Louise Moffat.
"We have high expectations," said coach Nicole Dryden.
"We have kept our buildup quite specific and shortened in time frame. You have to plan the time between the National Bank Cup and the Smokefree champs very well to enable people to recover and get a fresh view on another competition.
"We are all fresh, we are keen and we certainly have the right focus in terms of just building our game rather than focusing unnecessarily on what the outcome may be of the final."
Waikato face Wellington, Southland and Tasman in what is probably the toughest of all pools.
Waikato: Irene van Dyk, Chantelle Ngaia, Melisa Fotu, Renee Jacobson, Jenny-May Coffin, Laura Langman, Amigene Metcalfe, Louise Moffat, Leana du Plooy, Joline Henry, Casey Williams.
Netball: Waikato
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