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Coach and player departures, injuries and a few more worry lines for Mitch - there's been no shortage of off-field action as Australia's four rugby squads gather at the Super 14 start line.
The two biggest question marks surround the two best prospects - the New South Wales Waratahs and Western Force.
Deserved finalists last year, the Waratahs weren't disgraced in losing the final to the Crusaders and shape as a potent force.
However, their forward pack has undergone some gutting, with two of Australia's premier forwards of recent years - lock Daniel Vickerman and flanker Rocky Elsom - living in Europe.
Also, Wallabies props Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu both suffered serious injuries in a collapsed scrum against the Barbarians at Wembley two months ago, leaving new coach Chris Hickey with a depth-finding mission in his engine room.
Problems of a different sort confront Western Force coach John Mitchell.
His tenure looks tenuous despite getting the all-clear to continue following an inquiry into the coaching methods of the complex former All Blacks mentor.
The RugbyWA board is still waiting to hear the outcome of an inquiry into the coaching techniques of the complex former All Blacks mentor.
Whatever the outcome, it calls into question the Force's ability to mount a concerted challenge, despite their obvious improvements of recent seasons.
Mitchell reckons an improvement in their attacking play will see them jump from their recent mid-table finishes and in star first five-eighth Matt Giteau, they have just the man to pull the strings.
The glory days of the ACT Brumbies appear behind them although some off-season manoeuvring may have strengthened their cause.
New coach Andy Friend has made his mark by naming No 8 Stephen Hoiles captain, leaving veteran Stirling Mortlock to concentrate on his game-busting duties.
Outside Mortlock is the heartening return of former Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone after two years of chronic knee problems.
Hooker Stephen Moore is a brilliant signing, giving them international quality in the pack alongside veteran flanker George Smith.
The performance of the Queensland Reds will be intriguing.
They have finished no better than 10th over the last five years and have lost their best player and captain, lock James Horwill, through the first half of this season.
Yet no less a judge than Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has compared the Reds to his Crusaders side over the late 1990s before they went on to dominate Super rugby.
Deans reckons marquee signing Daniel Braid, the long-serving Auckland flanker, will be a key figure in lifting standards at the Reds and get a clutch of promising players such as first five-eighth Quade Cooper, No 8 Leroy Houston and former league playmaker Mark McLinden performing to their optimum.
There is also quality in Wallabies Peter Hynes, Berrick Barnes and Hugh McMeniman while the signing of Brumbies brothers Anthony and Saia Faingaa may prove inspired.
- NZPA
