Photo credit: RugbyPass
Last year's finalists Kowloon RFC boast the advantage of having relatively few personnel changes to make and will field mostly proven and familiar faces to spearhead their latest title challenge.
They will be supplemented by two signings, one of which is Hong Kong prop Rohan Cook from the HKCC and former Welsh Premier Division fly-half Scott Sneddon, who has been enlisted to fill the considerable boots of former England international Olly Barkley.
The Welshman is set to take on Barkley's player-coach role at the club, bringing with him a wealth of kicking expertise the likes of Jack Neville can capitalise on to further develop his game, following a sensational campaign for Kowloon and Hong Kong.
Scaysbrook (pictured far right), discusses Kowloon's Premiership prospects at LinkedIn Hong Kong.
Although Kowloon RFC coach James Scaysbrook may have had to part ways with his former Bath teammate, he believes Sneddon has what it takes to push Kowloon one step further towards the Premiership title.
"Scott was coaching Rosslyn Park [in London] last year and has played a fair bit of top-level rugby," he said.
"We have progressed over the past two seasons and hopefully we continue to do. We've had a really good hardworking pre-season and hopefully we can build throughout the year."
Scaysbrook's statement may seem an ostensibly modest assessment of the club's preparations, considering Kowloon recently achieved a modicum of revenge for their 2017 Grand Championship Final defeat with a 40-33 victory over Valley in a pre-season fixture.
In any case, a resurgent Kowloon will only spice up the upcoming Premiership season for the neutral and for the supporter, inspire a belief that the club truly has what it takes to go all the way.
Kowloon's season curtain-raiser involves a clash with HKFC on the 23rd September.