The ‘Cinderella’ story from last year’s competition. Nobody expected Hawke’s Bay to make the semi finals, but that’s exactly what coach of the year Peter Russell managed to do with his team.  This time around, everyone will be wary of them, but they should still be there or thereabouts come then end of the season.

Importantly, the Magpies have managed to hang onto most of last season’s squad, with Ben Batger and Grant Webb probably the only two that have left that might have commanded a starting spot. However, in Israel Dagg and George Naoupu, they have a couple of ready made replacements.

One big blow however is the loss of prop Clint Newland for the season through injury. He was an integral part of last season’s pack which dominated some much more fancied packs at scrum time, but capped Argentinean prop Bruno Cuezzo should be an able replacement.

Twenty two year old Sharks lock Johan Snyman will prove to be a good acquisition too, much in the same way Martin Purdy will be for Harbour. Snyman would have learned a lot from Sharks team mates Johann Muller and Johan Ackermann, both of whom have played for the Springboks in the last year.

The key for the Magpies will be the halfback/first five combination of Danny Lee and Matt Berquist. They proved to be very effective last year and will be even better together now with that experience. Lee played well enough to force his way into the Blues Super 14 squad, and even be the first choice at the start of the season.

The player to watch has to be young winger Zac Guildford. He is still only 19 years old but already has a season of Super 14 behind him, and was part of the U20 team that recently became world champions. Much is expected already of Guildford, and so far in his short career it is easy to see why.

Other important players for the Magpies will be hooker Hika Elliot (who is now on the brink of All Blacks selection), veteran flanker Michael Johnson and centre Jason Shoemark.

Prediction: will prove that they were not one season wonders and will make the semis again.

Squad: Matt Berquist, Adam Bradley, Bruno Cuezzo, Israel Dagg, Ash Dixon, Chris Eaton, Matt Egan, Hika Elliot, Bryn Evans, Rob Evans, Sam Giddens, Zac Guildford, Mark Jackman, Michael Johnson, Josh Keys, Jason Kupa, Danny Lee, Karl Lowe, Jamie Muir, George Naoupu, Pama Petia, Hugh Reed, Jason Shoemark, Tom Simpson, Johan Snyman, Sona Taumalolo, Dan Waenga.