After a summer dominated by damaging off-the-field headlines, England's top clubs are desperate to get back to playing some rugby again.

The suspension of four players at Bath for refusing to take drugs tests and the on-going fall-out from 'Bloodgate' at Harlequins has seen the Rugby Football Union establish a 13-man taskforce in an attempt to clean up the game's image.

It should come as welcome relief then to players, officials and supporters when Sale and defending champions Leicester get the new Guinness Premiership campaign under way on Friday.

The Tigers start favourites to defend the trophy they won when pipping London Irish by a single point in last season's final.

The Exiles are also fancied to challenge strongly again, but elsewhere there is an air of uncertainty over several clubs.

Gloucester, Wasps, Sale and Saracens have all changed their director of rugby, while it remains to be seen how Quins will be affected by Dean Richards' departure.

Promoted Leeds are most pundits' pick to be relegated, but under Neil Back the Yorkshire side will have other ideas.

So who is destined for the play-offs and who will end up in a relegation scrap? We assess the prospects for all 12 teams, and welcome your views on 606.

Who will win the Guinness Premiership?