Ballymena

Coach: Andre Bester.

Captain: Gary Longwell.

In: C Millar (prop, City of Derry), J Park (wing, Portadown), M Edwards (scrum-half Bective), M Beattie (scrum-half NIFC), R Fisher (hooker, SA), R Larkin (centre, Young Munster), D O'Cuinneagain (number eight, Sale), A Gamble (prop, New Zealand), S Broughton (out-half, NZ).

Out: R Irwin (prop, Ards), K Gallick (number eight, City of Derry), T McWhirter (number eight, Dungannon), J Cunningham (centre, Dungannon), S Ritchie (hooker, Instonians), Andy Park (wing, Belfast Harlequins), S Coulter (wing, Belfast Harlequins), A Matchett (scrum-half, Belfast Harlequins), A Robinson (lock, Belfast Harlequins).

Prospects: After a high off-season turnover in personnel, would seem geared to a radical change in style. Need a good start to gain momentum.

Buccaneers

Coaches: Brian Rigney, Davey Henshaw.

Captain: Martyn Steffert.

In: M Deane (centre, Richmond), G Webster (lock, Northampton), J Maher (prop, St Mary's College), C Kilroy (fullback/wing, Garryowen).

Out: B Rigney (lock, retired), R Southam (utility back, Wanderers), N Mannion (number eight, retired).

Prospects: A degree of second season syndrome is compounded by loss of key players. Consolidation would be a good year.

Clontarf

Coach: Alex Wyllie.

Captain: Craig Brownlee.

In: A Reddan (centre/wing, Galwegians), RC Casey (wing, Old Wesley), S Forster (scrum-half, NZ), A Traynor (lock, Canada), Dave O'Brien (wing, Cork Con).

Out: Declan O'Brien (back-row, DLSP), M Kavanagh (prop, DLSP), P McQuillan (prop, Lansdowne), J Philpott (out-half, Old Belvedere), H Hurley (Old Wesley), M Smith (centre, retired), M Woods (full back, Australia).

Prospects: Diminished reserves up front and O'Brien, Smith and Woods are sure to be missed. Have the capacity to spring the occasional surprise.

Cork Constitution

Coaches: Michael Bradley and Packy Derham.

Captain: Jerry Murray.

In: M O'Driscoll (lock, UCC), S Mills (flanker, Sale), D Moran (wing, UCC).

Out: D O'Brien (wing, Clontarf).

Prospects: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In a sea of change, the holders look the most settled of anyone. Granted, Corkery is a particularly big loss. Should be top four material again.

DLSP

Coach: Phil Werahiko.

Captain: Kenny Wheelock.

In: D O'Brien (back-row, Clontarf), T Giles (back-row, Skerries), D Dunne (lock, Corinthians), M Kavanagh (prop, Clontarf), G Lloyd (lock, UCD), R Frost (lock, Portadown), S O'Donnell (hooker, TCD).

Out: None.

Prospects: Bookies and most pundits' favourites to occupy relegation play-off spot. Need an early win to prevent 'Wegianstype scenario but should have more durability than that.

Dungannon

Coach: Willie Anderson.

Captain: Allen Clarke.

In: T McWhirter (number eight, Ballymena), J Cunningham (centre/wing, Ballymena), A Boyd (flanker, Queen's), P Johns (lock, Saracens), T Howe (wing, Newbury), S Rodgers (hooker, Cambridge Univ), D Cadwallader (Lydney).

Out: R Stevens (centre, Belfast Harlequins).

Prospects: Have recruited well and return to the top flight far better equipped than when they left two seasons ago. Genuine dark horses for top four and at 16/1 in some quarters represent best value around.

Garryowen

Coach: John Hall.

Captain: Shane Leahy.

In: K Wood (hooker, Harlequins), S McCarthy (scrum-half, Old Crescent), P McDonagh (full back, Old Crescent), B O'Neill (centre, Old Crescent), P Neville (flanker, Old Crescent), C Botha (prop, SA).

Out: J Clarke (wing, Richmond), P Cunningham (hooker, retired), I Costello (out-half, Bohemians), T Clifford (prop, Old Crescent), K Ronan (Richmond).

Prospects: A relatively modest turnover has left them looking stronger again and with John Hall on board, seemingly even more committed. It will be a surprise if the consistent ones are not there or thereabouts again.

Lansdowne

Coach: Michael Cosgrave.

Captain: David O'Mahony.

In: P McQuillan (prop, Clontarf), A O'Neill (centre/wing, Bath), P Hamilton (centre, Australia), A McCullen (flanker, Dax), B Cusack (lock, Richmond).

Out: K McQuilkin (centre, retired) J O'Beirne (flanker, Greystones), J Woods (out-half, Blackrock), G Molloy (flanker, Bective).

Prospects: Look stronger again on paper save for retirement of McQuilkin - virtually irreplaceable. Capable of beating anyone but jury still out as to whether they have the consistency to make the breakthrough.

St Mary's College

Coach: Brent Pope.

Captain: Trevor Brennan.

In: M O'Kelly (lock, London Irish), M McHugh (out-half, Trinity), R Gavin flanker, Old Wesley), F Fitzgerald (lock/flanker, Old Wesley), J Doddy (centre, Trinity), R Doyle (flanker, Greystones), G Halpin (full back, Wanderers), I Cummins (prop, Clontarf).

Out: S Jameson (retired), D Lyons (centre, Bective Rangers), J Maher (prop, Buccaneers), K Nowlan (full back, Wanderers), R Nowlan (wing, Wanderers), E McCormack (scrum-half, Wanderers), E Gibney (centre, Bective Rangers), F Roche (hooker, Shannon), M Cuddihy (flanker, Naas).

Prospects: Traditionally slow starters and a close-season of relative upheaval in personnel and ensuing representative callups could combine to leave Mary's needing a while to settle again.

Shannon

Coaches: Pat Murray, Rhys Ellison.

Captain: Mark McDermott.

In: J Langford (lock, Australia), P Stringer (UCC), J O'Neill (Sunday's Well), F Roche (hooker, St Mary's).

Out: D Sheehan (full back, Bohemians), C Murphy (flanker, Bohemians), A Thompson (wing, France), B O'Shea (wing, retired), T Cregan (full back, Young Munster), S Johnson (scrumhalf, France), J Deegan (hooker, retired), D Kirby (lock, Australia).

Prospects: Refreshed and with renewed hunger are entitled to be favourites. If they make the top four will be harder to stop than anyone.

Terenure College

Coaches: Gerry Murphy, Bobby Byrne.

Captain: Rory Sheriff.

In: R Governey (out-half, Oxford), M O'Kelly (centre, Trinity) R Staunton (wing, UCD), R Timlin (flanker, UCD), D Murphy (fullback), C Gormley (utility back, Buccaneers), N Ashley (Australia).

Out: C Clarke (retired), N Hogan (retired), R Browne (centre, Barnhall).

Prospects: Clarke's and Hogan's retirement effectively completes the passing of an era at 'Nure. Undistinguished warm-up campaign suggests it could be another long, hard winter.

Young Munster

Coach: Packo Fitzgerald.

Captain: Derek Tobin.

In: M Mullins (centre, West Hartlepool), M te Pau (number eight, Richmond), D Reddan (scrum-half, Galwegians), L Doyle (centre, Old Crescent), I Dillon (wing-forward, Bohemians), T Cregan (full back, Shannon).

Out: D Edwards (flanker, Bohemians), A O'Halloran (out-half, Bohemians), J O'Connell (flanker, Bohemians), P Boland (fullback, Galwegians), R Coveney (wing, Bohemians), R Larkin (utility back, Ballymena).

Prospects: No-one comes more durable but aside from semifinal two seasons ago, Munsters have rarely hinted at repeat of memorable '83 success. Ever-dangerous dark horses.

Compiled by Gerry Thornley