Defending champions Warringah know there will be a target on their back as the Shute Shield prepares to get underway on Saturday.
The Rats established their status as the best team in the country after defeating Bond Uni 34-19 in the Australian Club Championships last month.
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It came after they ended an eight-year drought without a Shute Shield title, squashing Easts’ hunt for back-to-back titles with a 37-24 victory.
They open their campaign against Sydney Uni, with skipper Ben Marr keeping the focus internal.
“I don’t think it changes much; we just have to worry about what we need to do,” the ex-Sevens star told Rugby.com.au.
“We can only control what we can control and that’s us as a team backing ourselves and hopefully we can fend them off and get some wins.”
“I think we enjoy the pressure if anything, it’s good. It means that every game has a little bit more meaning on it and we always go for our big game so we take the pressure on and enjoy it,” winger Ben Woolett added.
They face a Uni team boosted by a host of graduated Australia U20 talent, including back-rower Eamon Doyle and winger Liam Grover, with former Rebel Lukas Ripley named at centre.
Finalists Easts host Norths at Woollahra Oval, guided around by Waratahs flyhalf Jack Bowen.
Norths have been one of the biggest recruiters in the off-season, with Brumbies fullback Shane Wilcox and Waratahs duo Lachie Hooper and Michael McDonald among the fresh faces.
They are joined in kind by Gordon, with several former Eastwood stars making the switch as they begin their campaign against a Western Sydney team captained by experienced flyhalf and Samoan international Rodney Iona.
The return of promising prop Will Goddard softens the blow for the ‘Woods under new coach Anthony Griffin, facing Randwick at TG Milner.
The Wicks will have the services of former Wallaby Isi Naisarani at number eight, starting the season with a heavy heart after the passing of long-term first-grade manager Peter Meagher in the Bondi attacks.
“Marzo was a massive part of our first-rate team. He was a silent and quiet guy so the little things that we've worked on, we’ve been thinking about him and the things that he used to do for people on the field that the crowd won't see when they come into the game,” captain Joel Ellis said.
In a survey of each team, West Harbour was nominated as the team most likely to improve in 2026, getting a chance to show their growth against Southern Districts, with former Rebel Cam Orr captaining the side.
Meanwhile, former Connacht and Vannes flyer John Porch starts for Hunter Wildfires, who will also call upon recent Force debutant Taj Annan and Titi Nofoagatotoa to face a Manly team stacked with Sevens experience, with Simon Kennewell one of four in the starting side to have represented Australia.
