By Sean Davies and Bruce Pope BBC Sport

BBC Sport previews the chances of Wales' regional rugby sides in Celtic and European competition.

TEAM-BY-TEAM PREDICTIONS Cardiff Blues Llanelli Scarlets Neath Swansea Ospreys Newport Gwent Dragons

We've had plenty of carping over the past two years as Wales adjusted to regional rugby, but now it is time to carpe diem, time for the remaining four teams to seize the day.

It is not often that Welsh rugby seeks advice from Robin Williams - although St Paul's divine intervention seems frequently needed - but this season the Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets have to inspire.

True, Welsh rugby has gone through another off-season of upheaval and turmoil.

The cynical culling of the Celtic Warriors has left a sour taste in the mouth, and the redistribution of their playing squad means another bedding-in period for the surviving sides.

But it also means that we have arrived at the magical number of four fully professional teams, the holy grail sought by Welsh rugby administrators since the game went open.

The remaining regions have seen their playing reserves strengthened and their annual funding increased, so the equation for this season is to prove that five into four does go.

Wales could not keep Stephen Jones from Montferrand's clutches

But that extra funding and promise of better times ahead wasn't always enough to compete with the clout of French and English clubs.

Wales' record try scorer Gareth Thomas headed for Toulouse, while Test fly-half Stephen Jones opted for Montferrand over Leicester.

The four Welsh sides have each been given a Heineken Cup place for this season, and have had their regional responsibilities clearly defined so that they can develop their playing structure, youth programmes and support base.

Bringing in the crowds is surely the key to the future success of regional rugby in Wales, but last year - with occasional exceptions - the dismal attendances were matched by the moribund attempts at marketing.

On the pitch, the efforts of the teams were respectable, the Scarlets claiming the Celtic League title and Welsh sides filling five of the top six places.

PREDICTED WINNERS Celtic League: Ulster Celtic Cup: Leinster Heineken Cup: Toulouse Challenge Cup: Sale Challenge Shield: Narbonne Scrum V: Give your predictions

Similar success can be hoped for this season.

With the Scottish sides lacking depth and struggling to improve, and Leinster and Munster likely to rest their internationals for chunks of the campaign, Ulster again look like the main threat to Welsh dominance.

But the true measure of success, and the place to brew the fans' excitement, will be in the cauldron of Europe, the Heineken Cup.

Last season the Ospreys were shambolic, the Blues and Dragons spasmodic, the Scarlets characteristic - following their usual impressive path to the quarter-final before making a tame exit.

The challenges in Europe will be equally formidable this year and on paper Welsh chances are slim.

As usual, the six pool winners and two runners-up with the best records advance to the knock-out stages.

But none of the Welsh sides have been drawn in pools with Italian clubs - traditionally the best way to boost the stats of a team finishing second.

The Ospreys must overcome the might of Munster

That leaves the Ospreys more than likely having to get past last season's semi-finalists Munster, while the Scarlets must pull out something special against finalists Toulouse.

The Blues, meanwhile, face two quarter-finalists in Gloucester and Stade Francais, plus Celtic League runners-up Ulster. Oh dear.

The Dragons appear to have the most favourable draw, but even they will have to overcome sides of the calibre of Newcastle and Perpignan just to reach the quarter-finals.

By our reckoning, at least one of the regions has to throw the form book in our faces - it would be a most welcome slap if the Welsh flag was still flying come the quarter-finals in April.

Is four the magic number to bring back the glory days and pack the stands with fans?

Despite some foreboding for the Heineken Cup this season, the long-term forecast is good, the right formula is there, now we just need some good four play to get Wales excited about its rugby once again.