IT often comes in for criticism, but some people can put a positive spin on the current Scottish domestic cricket structure.

Craig Wright, the former Saltire and World Cup captain, believes the CSL strikes the right balance for largely amateur players, in terms of providing a mix of taxing competition without threatening spousal relations.

His former international colleague, Paul Hoffmann, has a different perspective and thinks the only way to provide a platform for the leading performers is through the medium of a national league format.

It's an argument which isn't going to disappear and where there are valid claims on both sides, but on the basis that you have to make the best of the hand fate deals you, Tyler Buchan probably has the right approach. As the captain of defending national champions, Aberdeenshire, he recognises his team were forced to battle and scrap every step on the road to glory last summer, and often had to dig themselves out of perilous scrapes.

But they managed to cross the finishing line and that was a testimony to the squad's willing blend of youth and experience, foreign recruits and homegrown luminaries. In which light, it isn't surprising that the Mannofield-based title-holders, who launch their campaign away to Falkland this afternoon, have stuck with the time-honoured philosophy: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Buchan is realist. He has plenty of talented individuals in his ranks, including Sri Lankan professional, Harsha Cooray, and the prolific duo, Chris Venske and Hayes van der Berg. And he and his compatriots, such as Calum Howard, Kenny Reid and Adrian Neil, are a potent bunch. But he appreciates how tight the 2015 struggle might be. "I think we are well prepared, we are coming off the back of a couple of months of indoor and outdoor nets and the guys are keen to get back to playing games again," said Buchan.

"We have managed to keep the squad from last season together well, we have a settled side coming into the new year, with guys who are keen to try and go out and defend the title this year, but we know we will have a big target on us as everyone will be keen to put one over us because we are the defending champions.

"Last time around, we managed to put together a consistent run of good performances which pushed us up the league after a couple of early losses, so we will be looking for that same consistency again this year."

This remains one of the biggest problems facing the Caledonian circuit. There's simply no substitute for the type of regular challenges against the English counties, which unquestionably raised the Saltires' standard a decade ago. But, given that these opportunities have vanished and there is no imminent prospect of the Scots becoming involved in a cricketing equivalent of a rugby-style European league, they just have to make the most of the limited chances they receive. That is why the World Cup was so important and why it was so maddening that Preston Mommsen's personnel returned home without a win. They can't afford to be perceived as permanent minnows. But if they keep losing, you can't expect the superpowers to alter their views.

"We know this is a tough league and that seven or eight sides will be coming into the championship thinking if they get off to a good start they can challenge for the league, so we are under no illusions as to the number of challengers we face," said Buchan, whose side can expect a sustained test of their credentials against the likes of Clydesdale, Watsonians, Grange and West of Scotland in the coming months.

"I think it is key that Scottish talent is given the platform and opportunity to perform, because watching the World Cup over the winter will have inspired the next generation to push on and reach that level themselves and I know we have some fresh new talent looking to push their way through the ranks and makes a name for themselves this year."

The question is whether the young generation can propel themselves to the front of the queue and illustrate their ability to seize matches by the scruff of the neck and bend it to their will. There's no doubt Aberdeenshire possess a willing bunch of characters who fight for one another and that esprit de corps was instrumental in their success in 2014.

Can they sustain it? And can their momentum carry them forward in the future? We'll soon find out or at least we will if the weather doesn't rain on Shire's parade.