The 2014-2015 Rugby World Cup will dominate headlines throughout the coming season, with the Aviva Premiership providing one of the key battlegrounds leading up to the tournament.
England players freely admit that appearing in the sport's global showpiece on home soil is their ultimate ambition, but equally understand that a poor league campaign will jeopardise their chances of being involved at all.
A familiar mantra greets the arrival of every new season and it is one that has been heard in the build-up to 2014-15, with Harlequins openside and England captain Chris Robshaw among those outlining the increasing demands of the sport.
"The game has changed and it is getting more physical, quicker, faster and tougher every year," Robshaw said. "Guys are getting stronger and the academy players coming through now are the strongest."
Against this backdrop of ever-improving conditioning is the growing competition for a place in the top four, with the predictability of the play-offs set to be challenged like never before.
Leicester, Northampton, Saracens and Harlequins have monopolised the knockout section of the Premiership for the past three years, but only points difference separated Quins and Bath after 22 rounds of league combat last season.
Bath are well placed to renew their assault on the top four in 2014-15, with the arrival of rugby league superstar Sam Burgess around October raising expectations at the Recreation Ground.
Northampton were crowned Premiership champions last season, defeating Saracens 24-20 in extra-time at Twickenham, and were popular winners after enduring so many disappointing major finals but what chances do they have of defending their crown?
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