By Gareth Charles Rugby correspondent BBC Sport Wales

So here we are again - a time to look forward to another season while looking back at past achievements and failures.

It's also a time for pundits and experts to prepare to have more than a smattering of egg on face.

OSPREYS

Tommy Bowe - a rare Ospreys summer signing

Last season the Ospreys were the only Welsh region to end up with any silverware - the EDF Energy Cup.

They've been big spenders in the past but not so this time around.

Signing only Irish wing Tommy Bowe (and possibly Kiwi scrum half Jamie Nutbrown) along with some academy products suggests they're pretty happy with their squad and they certainly have plenty of talent.

Coaches Sean Holley and Jonathan Humprheys aren't the most experienced but the influence of Elite Performance Director Andrew Hore is becoming increasingly apparent.

Verdict: They could well hang on to the EDF trophy and progress to the latter stages of the Heineken Cup again, but finishing as low as last season's seventh in the Magners League absolutely unthinkable.

CARDIFF BLUES

Will Young survive this season with the Blues?

The spotlight will be just as much on the Blues - ironically dubbed "chequebook Charlies" by former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones.

They may not be happy with the tag underachievers but they've had to lump it for the last few seasons.

Progress has been steady - two consecutive runners' up spots in the Magners and a Heineken quarter-final final and coach Dai Young has gone on record as saying this is the best squad he's had at the Arms Park.

606: DEBATE How will the Welsh regions fare this season?

Verdict: It's well within the Blues' capabilities to win something (possibly the Magners league) this year.

LLANELLI SCARLETS

Can Kees Meeuws help shore up the Scarlets scrum?

Like the Blues, the Scarlets are on the verge of moving home and having to play four of their first five league matches away won't make things easy.

But the emotion of bidding farewell to Stradey Park and the excitement of setting up at Parc y Scarlets could be as galvanising as the changes they've made on and off the field.

The signing of Kees Meeuws, Simon Maling and David Lyons should shore up a scrum that was often creaking last season.

Positive noises are already emanating about the work being done by new fitness coach Brad Harrington and the key signing could be that of defence coach John Muggleton.

Verdict: A steady, if unspectacular season

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS

Tom Willis - a savvy signing by Paul Turner

And lastly the Dragons- which seems to be the way of things in Welsh rugby. They are truly sick of the pity implicit in the back-handed compliment "Paul Turner is doing a great job considering the resources at his disposal."

But he is, and some savvy pre-season signings - particularly new captain Tom Willis will give them a harder edge to hang on to close games they let slip last season.

Having Colin Charvis' refreshing cynicism to go with great experience will help off the field when things get tough - as they inevitably will having the likes of Wasps and Gloucester in their EDF group and Toulouse in Europe.

Verdict: Their achievement would be to end the season not regarded as the fourth Welsh region.