As the recruitment period draws to a close, the 10 members of Malta's elite division will be aiming to get their 2008-09 league campaign off to a flying start over the next three days.
Valletta, the reigning champions, look well placed to win the title for the second year in succession but Marsaxlokk, Birkirkara and Sliema must be fancying their chances of dethroning the Citizens.
Valletta face a difficult start as they entertain Sliema on Monday (kick-off 8 p.m.).
Coach Paul Zammit is unlikely to make significant changes to the team that started the 2-0 win over Birkirkara in the Super Cup final.
Defender Luke Dimech will serve the second of a two-match ban and keeper Andrew Hogg has yet to fully recover from a calf injury.
At the time of writing, Valletta were still awaiting the international transfer certificate of newly-signed Brazilian forward Marcelo Peabiru.
Zammit is aware that his team are most people's favourites but he urged caution.
"Reaching the top is hard but staying there is even more difficult," Zammit said. "The challenge to win the title is going to be tougher than last year.
"I've been stressing to the players the need to remain focused and committed."
Sliema have been through a mini-revolution this summer as the club's administration decided to offload a number of experienced players.
This week, the Blues signed two new foreigners, Serbian striker Kosta Bjedov and Australian midfielder Daniel Severino.
Coach Stephen Azzopardi will check on the fitness of Branko Nisevic who has a hamstring problem while goalkeeper Henry Bonello is ranked doubtful with a back injury.
Mark Scerri and Roderick Bajada are ruled out by suspension.
The other matches
Floriana vs Ħamrun Spartans (today at 6 p.m., National Stadium).
The 2008-09 Premier League curtain-raiser is a clash between two teams with high hopes of qualifying for the Championship Pool.
Ħamrun have bolstered their squad significantly in the hope of improving on their sixth-place finish last season. Brazilians Alex Noronha and Ronaldo Paulista, former Floriana players Zoran Levnaic and Mano Micallef and Pietà's young striker Dylan Kokavessis are the new kids on the Spartans' block.
Floriana have cashed in on some of their most prized players in the summer, the likes of Christian Cassar, Trevor Cilia and Micallef while goalkeeper Simon Agius has moved to Sliema on a season-long loan.
The Greens, who will be under the guidance of Serbian Mirko Popovic this season, brought in a host of experienced players, namely Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo, Montenegro striker Aleksandar Madzar, Orosco Anonam, Dylan Zarb, plucked on loan from rivals Valletta, and a new Serbian goalkeeper, Dejan Maksic.
Marsaxlokk vs Qormi (tomorrow at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Marsaxlokk, runners-up last season, open their league commitments with a match against Qormi.
Marsaxlokk's Brazilian striker Marcelo Pereira is out of tomorrow's clash after being handed a one-match ban after his goal celebrations in the Euro Challenge Cup draw against Valletta were considered to be provocative.
Renato Conceicao is out with an injury while Trevor Templeman could be out for up to two months after having appendix surgery.
The likes of Keith Fenech, Massimo Grima, Renie Forace and Alfred Effiong will lead Qormi's challenge to avoid relegation. Coach Jesmond Zerafa cannot rely on Joseph Chetcuti and Carmel Formosa tomorrow due to suspension.
Hibs vs Msida St Joseph (tomorrow at 7 p.m., National Stadium).
Edmund Lufi will take charge of Hibs' first two matches as designated coach Mark Miller cannot start his new job before September 6 due to his commitments with the Malta U-21 team.
The Paolites are expected to parade three new players tomorrow, Uruguay midfielder Christian Callejas, Bulgarian Rumen Galabov and Malta U-21 international Edward Herrera, signed on loan from Pietà.
Msida coach Patrick Curmi is also expected to parade a host of new players, the likes of Brazilians Andrew Rocha Da Silva and Marcos Aurelio and Kurt Magro.
Tarxien vs Birkirkara (Monday at 6 p.m., National Stadium).
Birkirkara coach John Buttigieg hopes to build on the team's strong finish last season and that perhaps explains the Stripes' cautious approach to the transfer market where their only signings so far have been Cilia and Angus Buhagiar.
Noel Coleiro's options at Tarxien have been boosted by the signing of left-back Lino Galea from Birkirkara, Pio Sciriha (Msida), Warren Chircop (Marsa), Mark Tanti (St Patrick), Kevin Borg (Ħamrun) and three new foreigners - Ivan Carapic (Serbia), Rodrigo Cariaga (Argentina) and Daniel Bueno (Brazil).