WILL Bidvest Wits defend their league championship?
Who will make the top eight and who will be relegated?
These and many other questions will be answered in the nine months of intense battle for honours and survival that lie ahead in the Absa Premiership season which gets under way this weekend.
Kicking off proceedings is the keenly awaited fixture between Wits and Cape Town City at Bidvest Stadium tonight (8pm).
The red card to Wits coach Gavin Hunt has denied fans what would have been an interesting tactical duel between master (Hunt) and student Benni McCarthy.
McCarthy, who made his PSL bow as CT City coach last week, will be looking to build on his great MTN8 Cup start.
The prelude to the forthcoming football season, however, is always characterised by the transfer of players and coaches to new clubs.
Wits have already made some headline-grabbing signings, snapping up free agent Steven Pienaar as well as Daylon Claasen, while Mamelodi Sundowns, who ran them close last season, have recruited known stars Oupa Manyisa and George Lebese.
As usual, the Brazilians will be expected to win everything on offer, more so with their marquee signings.
They begin their quest to wrest the title from Wits with a Tshwane derby clash with SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow (3pm).
Elsewhere tomorrow, Pirates will be home to Chippa United at Orlando Stadium (6pm), hoping for an ideal start to the season following the shambles of last term.
New coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has his shot at personal redemption after he returned to the Buccaneers, the club where he was appointed to a similar position a decade ago.
“The first match is like a journey of a thousand miles starting with the first step, which is very important for us,” said Sredojevic.
“We want to show real intent, entering this season with a win in our first match. Events of the past season have been forgiven but not forgotten. I’m satisfied with the work despite the short period of time I’ve had.
“I believe God will recognise our efforts and reward us with a result against Chippa.”
Having inherited a team low on morale, Micho also acknowledged the huge task ahead of him.
But he is eager to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
“It’s a manageable squad when I compare it to the past, when we had 53 players. I believe it’s better to have 11 lions than 50 sheep,” Sredojevic said.
“It’s unacceptable for a club of this magnitude to perform below expectations.”
Chiefs will be in action on Sunday when they visit Bloemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium.
Amakhosi will be seeking to escape the mediocrity of last season faster than one Grace Mugabe looking to flee Mzansi.
