By Mark Orlovac

Another gruelling Premiership season kicks off this weekend with next year's World Cup looming large on the horizon.

Sale are the team to beat after they claimed their first Premiership title with play-off victory in May.

There has been a conspicuous lack of big-name signings this summer as the clubs look more to home-grown talent.

So which clubs are set to challenge Sale this time, and who will find themselves struggling? BBC Sport assesses the chances of all the teams.

BATH

(Acting) Head coach: Steve Meehan
Captain: Steve Borthwick
Ground: Recreation Ground (10,600 capacity)
Last season: 9th
Key man: Olly Barkley

Prospects: It has certainly been a strange summer for Bath fans after seeing Brian Ashton, the man who turned around their 2005/06 season after joining the club in January, leave the Rec as England came calling.

Last year's Heineken Cup semi-finalists started pre-season without a coaching team and the relatively unknown Steve Meehan, who has been with Stade Francais for the last four years, has taken over.

Bath's back-line was rejuvenated under Ashton and that momentum must continue this season if they are to do battle at the right end of the table. Much will be expected of new recruit Chev Walker.

They say:"Bath had two distinct styles last year and we are trying to marry them for this season.

"I have been impressed with the squad. It is capable of doing good things in the competition. The players are motivated and they have a good understanding of what we want to do."
Steve Meehan

Head coach: Richard Hill
Captain: Matt Salter
Ground: Memorial Stadium (11,976)
Last season: 11th
Key man: Shaun Perry

Prospects: It may have been a battle at times, but promoted Bristol managed to stay in the Premiership last season, guided by their wily boss Richard Hill.

Survival will again be Hill's priority although the capture of Kiwi duo David Hill and Sean Hohneck could have fans setting their sights a bit higher.

Scrum-half Shaun Perry missed England's summer tour to Australia because of injury but is now fit again and could get another chance if Bristol get off to a flying start.

They say:"It will be a very tough year and we would like to do just a little bit better than last season.

"For most of our players last season was their first time in the Premiership. Hopefully they will have a bit more confidence to finish off our good work so we can score some more tries."
Richard Hill

GLOUCESTER

Head coach: Dean Ryan
Captain: Pete Buxton
Ground: Kingsholm (12,500)
Last season: 5th
Key man: Iain Balshaw

Prospects: Gloucester have made the highest-profile signings of the summer to raise hopes at Kingsholm that the Cherry and Whites could end their hunt for a Premiership title.

England full-back Iain Balshaw, as well as Italian duo Marco Bortolami and Carlos Nieto, will add international nous and experience to a youthful squad which landed the European Challenge Cup last season.

James Simpson-Daniel will miss the start of the campaign, as his injury nightmare continues, but emerging stars such as fly-half Ryan Lamb and centre Anthony Allen will be aiming to make first-team spots their own.

They say: "I don't think we are over-focused on where we want to end up. If we keep improving we know we will keep moving forward and we will be in the mix near the end.

"If we start to concentrate on the end of the season we will lose sight of the things we could be better at."
Dean Ryan

HARLEQUINS

Rugby director: Dean Richards
Captain: Paul Volley
Ground: The Stoop (12,700)
Last season: Promoted
Key man: Andrew Mehrtens

Prospects: After a season out of the top flight, one of England's big names return to the Premiership - boasting an impressive squad and a revamped stadium.

Dean Richards' side lost just once last season as they cruised to the National League One title but will find points much harder to come by during this campaign.

Quins have recruited well with centres Stuart Abbott and Hal Luscombe, as well as new captain Paul Volley, among their headline signings.

They say:"A year out of the top flight has not done the players any harm. The level of expectation in National League One was totally different - we had to win week in week out.

"It created a mentality where we had to compete right to the last minute of every game. This season everyone expects us to be in the bottom two but we aim to be higher than that."
Dean Richards

LEICESTER

Head coach: Pat Howard
Captain: Martin Corry
Ground: Welford Road (16,000)
Last season: 2nd (lost in play-off final)
Key man: Harry Ellis

Prospects: Leicester won four straight titles between 1999 and 2002, but have failed to win anything since.

A fifth season without silverware would be unacceptable and coach Pat Howard - who could be in his last season with the Tigers - may find himself under early pressure if they have a poor start.

New signings Jordan Crane and Martin Castrogiovanni will bring competition to a squad that has fallen at the final hurdle in the last two years.

They say:"The first objective is to get to the final. We are a big club and we expect to be right up there pretty much from the outset.

"We do not feel added pressure. Success is not cumulative - Sale are not guaranteed anything this year just because they won the title last season. Once a trophy is lost, you address the problems and start again."
Pat Howard

LONDON IRISH

Rugby director: Brian Smith
Captain: Mike Catt
Ground: Madejski Stadium (24,100)
Last season: 3rd
Key man: Mike Catt

Prospects: London Irish's transformation from relegation candidates to title challengers last season was nothing short of incredible.

Brian Smith's free-scoring squad will now try to prove that last season's third-placed finish was no flash in the pan.

The retention of evergreen centre Mike Catt is key to the development of the club's promising youngsters while James Hudson could be the ideal replacement for Ryan Strudwick.

They say:"The key thing is that last year was a good start but we can't rely on last year, we have to start from scratch.

"Our first target is to get 10 wins and make sure we get into the top six. If we are good enough we will get into the play-offs and if we get there and have a fit team, then we may surprise a few people."
Brian Smith

LONDON WASPS

Rugby director: Ian McGeechan
Captain: Lawrence Dallaglio
Ground: Adams Park (10,000)
Last season: 4th
Key man: Josh Lewsey

Prospects: A Powergen Cup trophy last season was not really enough for a side that has claimed three league titles and a Heineken Cup since 2003.

Stuart Abbott has left for Quins and Matt Dawson has retired as Ian McGeechan looks to revamp his squad for another Premiership tilt.

Dave Walder, a highly regarded fly-half, will be looking to prove his worth following his release by Newcastle while prop Phil Vickery could make a big impact - fitness permitting.

They say: "Every season is eagerly anticipated, but this one more so than normal because of the World Cup at the end of it.

"There is a great atmosphere at Wasps. We are challengers as opposed to champions and with that comes a bit more hunger and determination to try and win trophies."
Lawrence Dallaglio

NEWCASTLE

Rugby director: John Fletcher
Captain: Matt Burke
Ground: Kingston Park (10,200)
Last season: 7th
Key man: Mathew Tait

Prospects: For the first time in 11 years, Newcastle are preparing to start a season without the steely leadership of rugby director Rob Andrew.

John Fletcher takes over the reins at Kingston Park and his first task will be to improve a pack that has repeatedly failed to dominate when the going gets tough.

Despite a host of players leaving, the Falcons have deployed a low-key recruitment policy this summer and the importance of keeping fly-half Jonny Wilkinson fully fit cannot be overstated.

They say:"We have got a lot of good young players. Obviously they will need to step up and at this moment in time it is just potential.

"Turning that potential into seasoned, consistent performers is the next challenge for the club. We are in a stronger position than the vast majority of other clubs with the quality of our young players."
John Fletcher

NORTHAMPTON

Rugby director: Budge Pountney
Captain: Bruce Reihana
Ground: Franklin's Gardens (13,500)
Last season: 6th
Key man: Carlos Spencer

Prospects: Northampton's coaching team of Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson worked wonders last season as Saints qualified for the Heineken Cup after flirting with relegation in 2005.

There has been little movement coming into Franklin's Gardens although Argentine hooker Matias Cortese will provide cover for England forward Steve Thompson when he is on international duty.

Mercurial fly-half Carlos Spencer will again be the man to watch but it is doubtful whether his efforts can guide Saints to a better finish than last year.

They say:"There is a strong atmosphere and the players are working very hard. If they continue that and show common sense with how they play then that hard work will pay off.

"We want to start better than last year. We had six points from our first four games so any improvement will be very welcome."
Head coach Paul Grayson

SALE

Rugby director: Philippe Saint-Andre
Captain: Jason Robinson
Ground: Edgeley Park (10,641)
Last season: 1st (champions after winning play-off final)
Key man: Jason White

Sale claimed their first Premiership title by beating Leicester at Twickenham back in May - becoming the first team to finish top of the table in the regular season and become champions in the play-offs.

The Sharks showed they have the "mongrel" to go with their style and with the big names staying on at Edgeley Park, their squad looks as if they will launch a stern defence of their title.

Centre Chris Bell and fly-half Lee Thomas will add depth to the squad as Philippe Saint-Andre also aims to make a serious bid for the Heineken Cup.

They say:"It is a new challenge, it is very exciting but it will be tougher and harder because everyone will want to beat the champions.

"Success brings success. When you see the players work so hard in pre-season - you know they want success again. You can see it."
Philippe Saint-Andre

SARACENS

Rugby director: Alan Gaffney
Captain: Hugh Vyvyan
Ground: Vicarage Road (19,108)
Last season: 10th
Key man: Andy Farrell

Prospects: Another season, another coach and yet another new start for the under-achieving club in the Premiership.

Former Munster boss Alan Gaffney is the latest coach aiming to bring some stability and success to a club that have somehow finished in the bottom three three times in the last five seasons.

There has not been the normal "revolving door" transfer policy at Vicarage Road this summer and Sarries fans will be desperate to see what impact rugby league legend Andy Farrell can make after his 18-month injury nightmare.

They say:"We have to get our skill level up and we have been concentrating on that in pre-season.

"We want to play a style of rugby that is expansive. That's not to say I want the ball going to the winger every time, but I want a side that is not afraid of running the ball and playing the game with ball in hand."
Alan Gaffney

WORCESTER

Rugby director: John Brain
Captain: Pat Sanderson
Ground: Sixways (10,221)
Last season: 8th
Key man: Pat Sanderson

Worcester have steadily improved during their two seasons in the top flight and should have the fire power to maintain their status.

They could do even better if new signings Lee Best and Marcel Garvey can get into their stride quickly.

Pat Sanderson is back in the England fold and his influence is vital while the Sixways faithful will be hoping that they will see more from Welsh prop Chris Horsman.

They say:"We have probably got more strength in depth in our squad then we have ever had. There is good competition for places.

"What we were guilty of last season is playing the same 22 players week in week out, we must have the confidence to rotate people around."
John Brain