Bulls

Last year: Ninth overall, second South Africa. Last year was a struggle after losing a raft of high-profile players, but they overachieved on the back of Victor Matfield's unexpectedly good return. Their home form - unbeaten at Loftus Verfeld with seven wins and a 34-34 draw against the Chiefs - saw them on the fringes of play-off contention until late in the campaign.

Best finish: Champions 2007, 2009, 2010

Fixtures: Stormers (H), Hurricanes (H), Sharks (H), Cheetahs (A), Force (H), Crusaders (H), Lions (A), Reds (H), Sharks (A), Stormers (A), Lions (H), Blues (A), Chiefs (A), Brumbies (A), Rebels (A), Cheetahs (H).

Squad: Bjorn Basson, Ulrich Beyers, Arno Botha, Jacques Du Plessis, Jacques Engelbrecht, JJ Engelbrecht, Dean Greyling, Grant Hattingh, Francois Hougaard, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Werner Kruger, Lappies Labuschagne, Bandise Maku, Victor Matfield, Morne Mellett, Akona Ndungane, Marvin Orie, Rudy Paige, Trevor Nyakane, Handre Pollard, Jacques Louis Potgieter, Jan Serfontein, William Small-Smith, Roelof Smit, Pierre Spies, Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss, Jamba Ulengo, Flip Van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Nico Janse van Rensburg, Piet van Zyl, Callie Visagie, Jurgen Visser.

Ins: Trevor Nyakane (Cheetahs), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Lappies Labuschagne (Cheetahs), Jamba Ulengo (Sevens).

Outs: Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs), David Bulbring (Eastern Province Kings), Louis Fouche (Ricoh Black Rams), Luan Jacobs (Lions), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), Tony Jantjies (Eastern Province Kings)Frik Kirsten (Retired), Wiaan Liebenberg (Released), Sampie Mastriet (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Waylon Murray (Sharks), Dewald Potgieter (Yamaha Jubilo), Jono Ross (Stade Francais), Wimpie van der Walt (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Paul Willemse (Grenoble).

This year: They have a very good draw, playing four of their opening five fixtures at their Loftus Versfeld fortress, and their much-strengthened squad can reasonably expect to head on tour in round 14 with no more than three defeats. They must re-discover winning form on the road, however.

Greg Growden's verdict: Always a handy pack, and even more nous this year as Springboks hooker Adriaan Strauss has moved across from the Cheetahs. It all revolves around whether they can mix up their attacking options better.

Tip: Sixth

Odds: $13 (Bet365)

Cheetahs

Last year: 14th overall, fifth in South Africa. The season unravelled from their opening last-minute 21-20 home defeat by the Lions, and injuries to their star back-rowers undermined their campaign in which they failed to win away from home. Scored only 10 points fewer than in 2013 and bagged more tries than any other South African franchise, but developed a turnstile defence that conceded a competition-high 59 five-pointers and their 60-25 defeat by the Lions in the final round encapsulated perfectly their season.

Best finish: Play-offs 2013

Fixtures: Sharks (A), Blues (H), Bulls (H), Sharks (H), Crusaders (A), Chiefs (A), Brumbies (A), Force (A), Reds (H), Lions (A), Stormers (H), Highlanders (H), Lions (H), Stormers (A), Waratahs (H), Bulls (A).

Squad: Ryno Barnes, Rayno Benjamin, Martin Bezuidenhout, Clayton Blommetjies, Willie Britz, Francois Brummer, Heinrich Brüssow, Jean Cook, Lood de Jager, JP du Plessis, Willie du Plessis, Carel Greeff, Cornal Hendricks, JW Jonker, Willie le Roux, Hilton Lobberts, Tian Meyer, Oupa Mohoje, Devin Oosthuizen, Sergeal Petersen, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Boom Prinsloo, Raymond Rhule, Johann Sadie, Boela Serfontein, Francois Uys, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Francois Venter, Coenie van Wyk, Shaun Venter, Elgar Watts, Carl Wegner.

Ins: Clayton Blommetjies (Bulls), Willie Britz (Lions), JP du Plessis (Montpellier, France), Willie du Plessis (Golden Lions), JW Jonker (Lions), Devin Oosthuizen (Eastern Province Kings), Sergeal Petersen (Eastern Province Kings), Joe Pietersen (Biarritz, France), BG Uys (Eastern Province Kings), Coenie van Wyk (Lions).

Outs: Renier Botha (Free State Cheetahs), Hennie Daniller (Zebre), Andries Ferreira (Zebre, Italy), Johan Goosen (Racing Metro, France), Rocco Jansen (Griquas), Lappies Labuschagne (Bulls), Ligtoring Landman Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales), Hercu Liebenberg (released), Piet Lindeque (retired), Kevin Luiters (Eastern Province Kings), Howard Mnisi (Lions), Gouws Prinsloo (Griquas), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors, England), Riaan Smit (Oyonnax, France), Adriaan Strauss (Bulls), Philip van der Walt (to Biarritz, France), Henco Venter (to Free State Cheetahs), Waltie Vermeulen (retired).

This year: The squad is substantially weaker than last year and, like last season, we'll get an early gauge of their play-off credentials with an opening away fixture before three home games and what looks on paper to be a tough tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Greg Growden's verdict: Seem to have lost everyone, with 20 players leaving the province. Good luck.

Tip: Last

Odds: $67 (Bet365)

Lions

Last year: 12th overall, fourth in South Africa. The Lions exceeded expectations by a long way as they opened with four wins in six matches before reality bit with seven defeats on the bounce. They finished with three good home wins, playing enterprising rugby, and their scrum was as strong as any in the competition.

Best finish: Play-offs 2000, 2001

Fixtures: Hurricanes (H), Sharks (A), Stormers (H), Blues (A), Crusaders (A), Rebels (A), Reds (A), Bulls (H), Sharks (H), Cheetahs (H), Bulls (A), Highlanders (H), Brumbies (H), Cheetahs (A), Waratahs (H), Stormers (A).

Squad: Marnitz Boshoff, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Faf de Klerk, Stephan de Wit, Stokkies Hanekom, Deon Helberg, Alwyn Hollenbach, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Kriel, MB Lusaseni, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Sampie Mastriet, Rudi Mathee, Derick Minnie, Howard Mnisi, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Mark Pretorius, Courtnall Skosan, Warwick Tecklenburg, Akker van der Merwe, Anthony Volmink, Stefan Watermeyer, Willie Wepener, Warren Whiteley.

Ins: Luan Jacobs (Bulls), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Bulls), Sylvian Mahuza (Leopards), Sampie Mastriet (Bulls), Rudi Matthee (Pumas), Howard Mnisi (Griquas), Luther Obi (Leopards), Mark Richards (SA Sevens), Francois Robbertse (Leopards).

Outs: Willie Britz (Cheetahs), Michael Bondesio (retired), Chrysander Botha (Exeter Chiefs, England), JW Jonker (Cheetahs), Charles Marais (Eastern Province Kings), Franco van der Merwe (Ulster, Ireland), Deon van Rensburg (retired), Coenie van Wyk (Cheetahs).

This year: The Lions are a young team with plenty of room still to improve, especially after the Golden Lions reached, and should have won, the 2014 Currie Cup final, but Franco van der Merwe is a substantial loss . Biggest danger this year might be raised expectations having overachieved last season, especially as their tour comes early in the campaign.

Greg Growden's verdict: They astounded everyone last year with seven wins. That won't happen two seasons in a row.

Tip: 14th

Odds: $101 (Bet365)

Sharks

Last year: Third overall, first in South Africa. The Sharks, playing Jake White's possession-based game plan, bombed a golden opportunity to claim a maiden title having dominated the home-and-away tournament until back-to-back defeats by the Stormers and the Cheetahs, after winning three of four on the road, cost them a home semi-final. They never looked like upsetting the Crusaders for the second time in history when they returned to Christchurch for the play-offs

Best finish: Runners-up: 1996, 2001, 2007, 2012

Fixtures: Cheetahs (H), Lions (H), Bulls (A), Stormers (A), Cheetahs (A), Chiefs (H), Force (H), Crusaders (H), Lions (A), Bulls (H), Highlanders (A), Hurricanes (A), Waratahs (A), Reds (A), Rebels (H), Stormers (H).

Squad: Lourens Adriaanse, Willem Alberts, Mouritz Botha, Renaldo Bothma, Michael Classens, Dale Chadwick, Marcell Coetzee, Kyle Cooper, Lionel Cronje, Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Andre Esterhuizen, Tyler Fisher, Paul Jordaan, Ryan Kankowski, Conrad Hoffmann, Patrick Lambie, Stephan Lewies, Monde Hadebe, SP Marais, Tendai Mtawarira, Tera Mtembu, Waylon Murray, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Etienne Oosthuizen, JP Pietersen, Cobus Reinach, S'bura Sithole, Matt Stevens, François Steyn, Tim Swiel, Heimar Williams, Jack Wilson, Fred Zeilinga.

Ins: Mouritz Botha (Saracens, England), Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), Michael Classens (Toun, France), Lionel Cronje (Brumbies, Australia), Jean Deysel (Toyoya Verblitz, Japan), Conrad Hoffmann (Brumbies, Australia), Lubabalo Mtyanda (Pumas), Matt Stevens (Saracens, England), Jack Wilson (Saracens, England), Waylon Murray (Bulls).

Outs: Jacques Botes (retired), Anton Bresler (Edinburgh, Scotland), Keegan Daniel (Kubota Spears, Japan), Hansie Graaff (Eastern Province Kings), Wiehahn Herbst (Ulster, Ireland), Peet Marais (Brive, France), Charl McLeod (Grenoble, France).

This year: Genuine Test-strength squad and gifted another sweet draw with two soft home fixtures to open a campaign in which they play solely in South Africa until round 12. That early stretch also features home games against the forecast New Zealand pacesetters, while, traditionally strong travellers, they will expect points from their swing through the Antipodes.

Greg Growden's verdict: What a dream draw, and life should be merrier without Jake White, who knows how to polarise. If they don't anything this season, they never will.

Tip: Fourth (Semi-finalists)

Odds: $7 (Bet365)

Stormers

Last year: 11th overall, third in South Africa. They won only one of their opening seven fixtures, in round two, and a four-matching winning sequence late in the campaign only papered over some of the cracks after they had been ravaged, once again, by injuries. The defence that had restricted the opposition to just 18 tries in 2013 "leaked" 29 last season while the offence - unimpressive the previous year - contributed 54 fewer points primarily through less accurate goal kicking in the absence of 2013 metronome Joe Pietersen.

Best finish: Runners-up 2010

Fixtures: Bulls (A), Blues (H), Lions (A), Sharks (H), Chiefs (H), Highlanders (A), Hurricanes (A), Waratahs (A), Force (A), Bulls (H), Cheetahs (A), Brumbies (H), Rebels (H), Cheetahs (H), Lions (H), Sharks (A).

Squad: Ruan Botha, Manuel Carizza, Nizaam Carr, Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Robert du Preez, Ryno Eksteen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, Gerbrandt Grobler, Nic Groom, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Johnny Kotze, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Neil Rautenbach, Michael Rhodes, Seabelo Senatla, Louis Schreuder, Jaco Taute, Jurie van Vuuren, Frans van Wyk, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen, EW Viljoen, Michael Willemse.

Ins: Ruan Botha (Western Province), Kurt Coleman (Western Province), Robert du Preez (Western Province), Huw Jones (Western Province), Vincent Koch (Pumas), Johnny Kotze (Western Province), Dillyn Leyds (Western Force), Wilco Louw (Blue Bulls), Bongi Mbonambi (Bulls), Neil Rautenbach (Western Province), Frans van Wyk (Western Province).

Outs: Gio Aplon (Grenoble, France), Pat Cilliers (Montpellier, France), Stephan Coetzee (to Griquas), Deon Fourie (Lyon, France), Dylon Frylinck (Pumas), Tazz Fuzani (Eastern Province Kings), Peter Grant (La Rochelle, France), Brok Harris (Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales), Tiaan Liebenberg (retired), De Kock Steenkamp (Ospreys, Wales), Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Irish, England), Gary van Aswegen (Eastern Province Kings), Michael van der Spuy (Griquas).

This year: The Stormers seem to be at a crossroads, after their strongbox defence was picked with ease last season, and it will be interesting to see if Allister Coetzeefinally brings his notoriously conservative game plan into the modern era. They look strong up front, as normal, but there is little to excite in the backline given the season-long absence through injury of Jean de Villiers.

Greg Growden's verdict: A bit like the Hurricanes - often unpredictable, and constantly play below their talent level. Have lost several good forwards and could struggle. But they know how to string wins together.

Tip: Seventh

Odds: $11 (Bet365)