Currie: Ground - Malleny Park. Coach - Bruce Macnaughton. Captain - tbc.

Players in: Jarrod Werder (Taranaki), Euan Goodman (Gordonians), Robert Hogg (Stirling County), Mike Duncan (Blaydon), Vaughan Spice (Canterbury), Graham McLaren (Dunfermline).

Players Out: Murray Laugerson (New Zealand).

Position in league last season - fourth.

Consistently up there with the best, Currie have, nevertheless, spectacularly failed to capture any of the major prizes. They will again rely on a strong pack, but their back play, under Scotland A stand-off Ally Donaldson, should not lack quality.

Gala: Ground - Netherdale. Coach - Jim Hay. Captain - Alan Johnstone.

Players in: Grant Harris (Hawick), Bryan Wear (Preston Lodge), Chris Dalgleish (Melrose), Grant Kelly (NZ Maoris), Stuart Kurth (Petoni), Scott Paterson (Taranaki), James Solomon (Manawatu).

Players out: Chris Paterson, Nathan Hines, Steve Scott (all Edinburgh Reivers), Craig Townsend (Exeter).

Position in the league last season - winners of division two.

You have to feel a tad sorry for Gala. Having won promotion to division one and having won the Tennent's Cup, Gala immediately lost leading players. Then charismatic coach Gary Parker announced he was moving back to Melrose. New coach Jim Hay, however, will not be short of local talent, the pick of them being young centre David Gray.

Glasgow Hawks: Ground - Anniesland. Coaches - Bill McDonald and Shade Munro. Captain - tbc.

Players in: Campbell Aitken (Blackheath), Gavin Blackburn (London Scottish), Ken Baillie (Edinburgh Academicals), Ian Smith (Glasgow Southern), Tony Wright, Kenny Sinclair (both Kilmarnock).

Players out: Murray Wallace (Boulder Colorado), Fergus Wallace (Hamilton), Matt McGrandles (Stirling County), Craig Dunlop (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Peter Harris (Livingston), Euan Logan (Ayr).

Position in the league last season - third.

After disappointing their fans last season with a number of lukewarm displays, Hawks will want to atone with a more emphatic showing.

Big turnaround in personnel but New Zealander Eugene Martin is returning for a further season. Signings of Campbell Aitken and Gavin Blackburn should help the cause.

Hawick: Ground - Mansfield Park. Coach - Ian Barnes. Captain - Scott Welsh.

Players in: Scott Welsh, Brian Renwick (Edinburgh Reivers).

Players out: Grant Harris (Gala), Craig Sutherland (Army), Ross Cook (Northampton).

Position in the league last season: fifth.

The Greens will be strengthened by the return of Scott Welsh and Brian Renwick. Under coach Ian Barnes, Hawick produced a number of shock victories last season. That will provide a platform for this talented team to challenge with greater confidence. Green could be about more than conservation.

Heriot's FP: Ground - Goldenacre. Director of rugby - Fraser Dall. Captain - Jocky Bryce.

Players in: Hugh Gilmour (Edinburgh Reivers), Terry Bradley (North Harbour and Grangemouth), Chris Capaldi (Stewart's-Melville), Mark Teague (George Heriot's School).

Players out: Graham Dall (Edinburgh Reivers).

Defending champions Heriot's again look to have the makings of a winning side. With pace in their back three and strength in midfield, allied to a hot-shot back row, Heriot's attacking potential is awesome. The Goldenacre side also have an accurate kicker in stand-off Gordon Ross, arguably the key player in the team.

Jed-Forest: Ground - Riverside Park. Coach - Kevin Barrie. Captain - Clark Laidlaw.

Players in: Kevin Amos (Gala), Stuart McPhail (St Boswells), Mike Robertson (Preston Lodge), Scott Lindsay (Duns).

Players out: Chris Richards (Bedford), Mike Dungait (Bridgewater).

Position in the league last season - seventh.

One of the great nurseries of Scottish rugby, Jed have survived on home-grown players over the seasons and will need to do so again. The loss of prolific scorer Chris Richards could be a blow to Jed.

Scott Lindsay will attempt to fill the vacant slot at full back.

Kelso: Ground - Poynder Park. Coaches - Bob Hogarth and John Jeffrey. Captain - Graeme Cowe.

Players in: Cameron Doig (North Canterbury), Adam Roxburgh (Edinburgh Reivers), Peter Rutherford (Berwick).

Players out: Simon Forsyth (injury retirement), Cosie Alberts (South Africa), Darren Howlett (police training), Kevin Utterson (Edinburgh Reivers).

Position in the league last season - second in division two.

Kelso are back in the top flight and deservedly so, after twice contesting the Tennent's Cup final. The return of Adam Roxburgh from Edinburgh Reivers should help the Kelso cause but this will be balanced by the loss of Kevin Utterson.

If Kelso can avoid injuries then they should do more than survive.

Melrose: Ground - The Greenyards. Coach - Gary Parker. Captain - Scott Aitken.

Players in: Paul Rutherford (Peebles), Callum MacRae (Stewart's-Melville FP), Kevin Allan (Boroughmuir).

Players out: Craig Redpath (retired), David Watt (Ulster).

Position in the league last season - second.

Melrose are determined to bring the title back to the Greenyards this season. The realisation of their ambitions will be helped by the signing of Gary Parker as coach. A favourite son of Melrose as a player, Parker has the charisma and know-how to pilot Melrose to success.

Melrose will again be strong up front and skilful behind the scrum. New signing Paul Rutherford will be a big asset.

Watsonians: Ground - Myreside. Coaches - Andrew Ker and Dave Cockburn. Captain - Nick Penny.

Players in: Ross Haddow (Northampton), Chris Black (Edinburgh Accies), Craig Brown (Allan Glens), John Kerr (Edinburgh Reivers), Alexandre Ramon (Rumilly), Chris Armitage (Northern), Neil Tweedie (Kilmarnock), Willem Wisser (Melbourne University), Stuart Thom (Melrose), Chris Le Clos (Collegians Technician Natal), Croag Olsen (University of Stellenbosch), Andrew Olsen (Gardens Tech).

Players out: Marcus di Rollo (Edinburgh Reivers), Jamie Weston (Oxford University).

Position in league last season - sixth.

After a disappointing campaign last season, Watsonians hope to celebrate their 125th season with an improved showing. The return of Scott Hastings from the professional ranks has helped the club focus on rediscovering winning ways.

Useful signings include Scotland under-19 wing Ross Haddow and former Reivers wing John Kerr.

West of Scotland: Ground - Burnbrae. Coach - John Manson. Captain - tbc.

Players in: Guy Perrett (Glasgow Caledonians), Jamie Kerr (Strathendrick), Logan Colbeck (Loughborough), Richie Craig (Boroughmuir).

Players out: Alan Hogarth, Chris Houston (both Ardrossan), Craig Hamilton (Newcastle), Rory Kerr, Ian McInroy (both Glasgow Caledonians).

West have again been hit by a loss of key players to Glasgow Caledonians and could struggle to find cohesion. If they can translate their sevens form into the fifteens game then they will survive.

Question marks over their pack and midfield.