Reds:
Ins: None of any note.
Outs: Leroy Houston, Will Chambers.
Strengths: The Reds have a strong pack led by skipper James Horwill but the backline is their main weapon. Wallabies Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane and Anthony Fainga'a headline the Reds attack that also includes young-guns Ben Tapuai, Luke Morahan and Ben Lucas. Ewen McKenzie's men are known as the entertainers of the comp but their ability to win with totally different game plans is arguably their greatest strength.
Weaknesses: The Reds have a good pack but they were outmuscled on occasion last season and will need to ensure they lay a good platform with Cooper on the sidelines due to a knee injury in the opening rounds.
X-Factor: Genia is the best player in the world in his position and, while injured five-eighth Quade Cooper gets most of the headlines, the No.9 is the true superstar of the reigning champions. Put simply, without Genia the Reds would struggle to finish better than mid table. His service is first class, his tactical kicking game underpinned Queensland's 2011 success, while his ability to snipe from the base of the ruck helped drag the Reds across the line in the Super Rugby final.
Predicted Australian Conference finish:1st. Not having Quade Cooper for at least the first two months of the campaign is a blow for the defending champs, but they can cope. Mike Harris and Ben Lucas are both decent back-ups, and while they won't produce the flashy moments of brilliance that Cooper provides, they bring more solidity to the position than the Wallabies No.10.
Waratahs:
Ins: Rocky Elsom, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Sarel Pretorius.
Outs: Phil Waugh, Al Baxter, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess.
Strengths: The Waratahs have one of the strongest scrums in the competition and their line-out is pretty handy as well, thanks largely to the work of new head coach Michael Foley. Their pack is littered with Wallabies while few teams are as good at the Waratahs defensively.
Weaknesses: A lack of attack. The Waratahs copped a pasting from their own fans last season for playing 'boring' rugby. Foley has made noises about the need to entertain but the reality is the Waratahs have less attacking firepower this season than last. With no Kurtley Beale after he defected to the Melbourne Rebels, and injuries to Wallabies wingers Drew Mitchell (ankle) and Lachie Turner (hamstring), it's unlikely the 'Tahs will throw caution to the wind too often this season.
X-Factor: Marquee recruit Sarel Pretorius has already shown glimpses of what he can do in the pre-season after joining the 'Tahs from the Cheetahs. The highly-rated half-back was the leading try scorer in the competition last year and will replace the departed Luke Burgess at half-back. The South African possesses blinding speed off the mark and will be a constant threat at the scrum-base this season, with referees set to police the off-side line more diligently this season.
Predicted Australian Conference finish:2nd. The Waratahs will be there or there abouts again this season but it's hard to see them improving too much on last year, where they finished second in the conference and scraped into the top six. The loss of Kurtley Beale is a massive blow, while it could take the 'Tahs some time to adapt to life under rookie head coach Michael Foley.