Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of every team in a Super season of change.

NEW season, new laws and new opportunities. That's what the marketing people tell us and it's true, particularly for those who like to embrace change. Some argue that if you are not changing and adapting, you're going backwards.

The Super competitions have always been at the pioneering end of rugby so it will be very interesting to see how each team interprets the new laws.

Here's how I believe the 14 teams will fare this season, in no particular order:

Crusaders: Many would say we can expect more of the same from this team, but they would be talking about the outcomes. As the most successful team in Super rugby, the Crusaders have always done it their way and have maintained their edge on a year-to-year basis. With more new faces this year, change management will be at the forefront of their thinking.

Bulls: The 2007 champions have had plenty of changes to their playing and coaching rosters. Their team culture will have to be reinvented and this may not be easy. David Campese's statement that "Nobody likes the Bulls" might be South African rhetoric (he was an adviser to the Sharks last year), but the rest of us will maintain our respect.

Cheetahs: Lost key players and their creative coach. I suspect that new mentor Naka Drotske, who is a favourite son and the engineer of a few years of Currie Cup success, will have his boys tuned up for a good season. The loss of strike prop CJ van der Linde for the season will be a blow to their try-scoring sheet."

Highlanders: A lot of pundits have already administered last rites to the Highlanders' campaign, but they are a dangerous team because their players are ambitious and will be out to make a point. With a couple of 130 kilogram props up front, the Highlanders will field some of the biggest players in the competition. And while the loss of Nick Evans to the Blues was a significant blow, the 42 points they racked up in their defeat of the Auckland franchise last week says to me: "watch out".

Reds: On paper they are a formidable team and they will test every other side. However, they must rediscover the habit of winning which is easily lost and hard to get back. That's a big challenge for a largely new Super 14 coaching staff, but low expectations may give coach Phil Mooney the freedom not be inhibited by the past. Don't read much into the Reds' trial form they will be hard to beat if Chris Latham is on the field.

Force: If they don't become consumed by discipline issues, the only threat to a good season for the Force is a lack of depth in key positions. They are able to win on the road and they boast a gifted set of backs. Having risen from last in their debut season to seventh last year, further progress will be expected. But the weight of that expectation can be heavy.

Lions: The loss of key players will be countered by strong self-belief. The Lions faded in 2007 but will perform better this year with a successful coach in Eugene Eloff and a great back-row. Eloff has supported many of the Lions players from his days as a junior Springboks coach, faith that will be repaid with high energy and commitment that could see them win games on the bell.

Stormers: Picked up Rassie Erasmus to run the show and perhaps shake the tree a little in the Cape. The Stormers always show a lot of promise and an ability to win the hard games, only to lose the ones they're expected to win. Erasmus will give them definite direction, but whether his players can cope with his regimented style will be interesting. However, they need to try a new formula, otherwise nothing changes.

Sharks: One of the best playing rosters in the competition is already beset by injury. The Sharks have pinched some crucial players from other teams and have also recruited France five-eighth Frederic Michalak, who will be fantastic to watch. The draw has not been as kind to the Sharks this season. With teams visiting Durban later in the year, they will be less affected by the humidity. The Sharks will be filthy that they let the title slip away last year, so they will be desperate.

Blues: They've got plenty of All Blacks to call on and will be very disappointed that they fell away towards the end of the season last year and missed the final. It's hard to judge their form following a tight win over the Reds and a large loss to the Highlanders, but those results at least suggest that significant improvement is in the offing. One of the best attacking teams in 2007, the Blues might be brought back to the field by the new rules. The style of game they choose to play will be intriguing.

Chiefs: The other Kiwi teams talk glowingly about the quality of the Chiefs' playing roster. With sevens specialists dotted throughout their line-up, they have speed and skill aplenty. The Chiefs have battled with injuries in recent seasons and are due for some luck. They are tough to play in Hamilton and showed early last year that they are getting better on the road. A team which can beat anyone anywhere, they just need to build momentum.

Hurricanes: Colin Cooper has done an excellent job of turning the 'Canes into a consistent year-to-year side, and they were the losing finalist in 2006. Nothing says this cannot happen again, although they have lost Tana Umaga to retirement.  In terms of set-piece organisation, it will be interesting to see how the team absorbs the impact of the loss of locks Paul Tito and Luke Andrews . Trial form suggests they will play a high-paced, 10-a-side style of game, but I'm sure there will be more to them than that. A difficult team to play.

Brumbies: The much discussed loss of key veteran players is a great opportunity for the Brumbies to modify their traditional style. It won't be lost on the faithful that they have not played finals football since 2004, and this will cause anxiety. The changes to the "spine" of the team (particularly at hooker, halfback and five-eighth), as well as captain Stirling Mortlock's absence through injury for the early part of the season, puts a lot of responsibility on young shoulders. There seems to be plenty of confidence, nonetheless.

Waratahs: Leaving the best to last . . . Not much to say here because, as usual, we carry not only the weight of expectation but the burden of perception. I am pleased that the lessons of 2007 have been learned, but others have learned as well. Even the Crusaders have tasted life at the foot of the Super table and it's an instructive experience. Bouncing back is the challenge but we know what finals football feels like and adversity is a wonderful tool. It's going to be a great journey.

This year's Super comp will go to the wire, as it does every year. Good luck to the talented, brave and intelligent.