Super 14 preview for this weekend's round one action (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
CRUSADERS v BRUMBIES at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 5.35pm
Last meeting: Brumbies 15-6, Canberra, April 07

The Brumbies' new era - the one without George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Jeremy Paul - begins with Super 14's toughest assignment. And the Canberra-based side's worrying trial form under the competition's new rules hasn't suggested it will be a golden one. Laurie Fisher's men will be praying the Crusaders' traditional slow start continues in 2008 but Robbie Deans' competition favourites will have the extra motivation against Australian sides of showing their coach what a rotten decision he made becoming Wallabies boss. With injuries to Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone, Fisher has picked as balanced a backline as he can, but promising young Brumbies five-eighth Christian Lealiifano has been thrown in the deep end and could end up having nightmares about Richie McCaw charging his way all match.

Centrebet: Crusaders $1.15, Brumbies $5.45
Tip: Crusaders by 20

QUEENSLAND REDS v HIGHLANDERS at Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm
Last meeting: Highlanders 33-17, Dunedin, March 07

Queensland didn't look bad on paper last year but injuries meant they rarely had their best side on the field. They look even better on paper in 2008 and have a new, highly regarded coach in Phil Mooney. Berrick Barnes' World Cup experience will count for plenty and having Sam Cordingley, Morgan Turinui and Chris Latham around him could even be exciting. The pack has plenty of beef but Rodney Blake and co could be tested by Super 14's speedy new rules. If they're serious about improving on 2007's wooden spoon they need to account for New Zealand's only franchise without an All Black representative at home, and should do so.

Centrebet: Reds $1.45, Highlanders $2.75
Tip: Reds by 14

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
SHARKS v WESTERN FORCE at Absa Stadium, Durban, 4.10am
Last meeting: Force 22-12, Perth, March 07

In South Africa's post World Cup shake-out - which included the appointment of a black Springboks coach, Pieter de Villiers, and a player exodus to Europe - 2007 finalists the Sharks have emerged as the Republic's strongest Super 14 side. Coach Dick Muir has named a run-on team with 11 internationals, although exciting French import Frederic Michalak is under an injury cloud. It all could spell big trouble for a Force side under yet another big, black cloud. Matt Henjak and South Africa have never been a good combination and this is the first of three matches in the country for the WA side. Henjak will take the field amidst allegations he was responsible for breaking a team-mate's jaw. The Force should have been in this and may still be, but how they respond to the week's events is anyone's guess.

Centrebet: Sharks $1.40, Force $2.95
Tip: Sharks by 20

BLUES v CHIEFS at Eden Park, Auckland, 5.35pm
Last meeting: Blues 18-11, Hamilton, March 07

A cracking derby clash between the competition's second (Blues) and fourth (Chiefs) favourites, two great attacking teams. The Blues appear to have the one key ingredient they lacked in 2007 - a dominant playmaker - after securing All Blacks five-eighth Nick Evans but have lost lineout king Ali Williams. The Chiefs need to avoid their traditionally slow start to the season and appear to have lost All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard to injury for this match. However they have extreme pace and brilliance out wide in Mils Muliaina, Sosene Anesi and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Centrebet: Blues $1.45, Chiefs $2.75
Tip: Chiefs by 8 in an upset

NSW WARATAHS v HURRICANES at Sydney Football Stadium, 7.40pm
Last meeting: Waratahs 38-14, Wellington, May 07

Despite finishing second last in an injury marred 2007, the Waratahs are still third favourites for the title this year. They're certainly desperate but also carry the burden of the health of Australian rugby. But they're promising the passes will stick in 2008 - and that tryscorers Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu will actually get over the line. A fit Dan Vickerman will boost their cause immensely with his authoritative forward play. Off-load kings the Hurricanes showed how much they love the new rules in last week's trial demolition of the Brumbies. They boast the havoc-wreaking backrow of captain Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins and will be a stern test of whether the Tahs have genuinely turned the corner.

Centrebet: Waratahs $1.50, Hurricanes $2.60
Tip: Waratahs by 5

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17

STORMERS v BULLS at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, 2.00am
Last meeting: Bulls 49-12, Pretoria, April 07

What to expect from last year's champions the Bulls after major off-season losses in coach Heyneke Meyer and captain Victor Matfield? New coach Frans Ludeke didn't have much joy with the Cats. Still any team with champion half Fourie DuPreez, try-machine Bryan Habana and classy playmaker Derick Hougaard is a threat. The usually inconsistent Stormers could be improvers under smart new coach Rassie Erasmus. They're likely to rely on the aggression of Shalk Burger and creativity of Luke Watson in the backrow for inspiration. Bulls should be too strong.

Centrebet: Stormers $2.55, Bulls $1.52
Tip: Bulls by 10

CHEETAHS v LIONS at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 4.05am
Last meeting: Cheetahs 16-10, Johannesburg, May 07

Two early contenders for the wooden spoon, although the same was true last year and Australian sides ended up filling the bottom two places. The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs' trademark brawn has been slimmed with the exit of props Os du Randt and Ollie le Roux while pointscoring machine Willem de Waal has headed to France. Perennial strugglers the Lions go into this one without their two biggest names, five-eighth Andre Pretorius and Jaque Fourie and the Jo'burg side are still searching for their first ever Super rugby win over a South African franchise.

Centrebet: Cheetahs $1.67, Lions $2.20
Tip: Cheetahs by 5

AAP