Super Rugby post a World Cup is always something like a renewal and 2012 is shaping as no different to earlier occasions.
Old hands have exited the game for their retirement pastures. New Zealand has farewelled Brad Thorn, Mils Muliaina, Stephen Donald, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu and John Afoa among others.
Overseas departures mean the likes of Victor Matfield, John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Phil Waugh, Al Baxter and Luke Burgess will not grace the tournament this time around.
Then there are the transfers. One of the most interesting will be that of Cheetahs halfback Sarel Pretorius to the Waratahs. Can he find some spark from the struggling Australian giant which is also having to do without attack force Kurtley Beale who transferred to the Rebels.
The Force are having to do without James O'Connor who has joined Beale at the Rebels.
In New Zealand the transfer of inside back Piri Weep and centre Ma'a Nonu from the Hurricanes has been one point of interest, while fellow Hurricane wing Hosea Gear has gone south to bolster the Highlanders along with hooker Andrew Hore.
Then there's Sonny Bill Williams transferring to the Chiefs from the Crusaders. He'll join Aaron Cruden who has opted out of the Hurricanes. The Crusaders have picked up Tom Donnelly from the Highlanders.
Add to those aspects the return of overseas travellers like: Tamati Ellison, Rudi Wulf, Ross Kennedy and those coming back from injuries like Michael Hobbs and Colin Slade, who had a year to forget in 2011, and the interest is there aplenty.
It is also the first year of the extended competition which, instead of finishing in late May, ahead of the June international window, will end with a finals series among the top six teams and a final on August 4. That's 21 games, without the finals added.
It's a tough programme that will offer the greatest test of resources for all teams and will end in the depth of New Zealand's winter, and that is a point worth remembering if the winter proves to be as nasty as the summer for much of the country.
All sorts of noises have been made about what can be expected from referees during the year in their choice of interpretations, especially at the tackle and at ruck time, although the term ruck is used loosely as most players in the game would not now know what a true ruck was.
It would be nice to think the Highlanders could utilise that traditional element of the southern game to make a point in this year's competition.
However, as so often happens with refereeing, seeing is believing. But one thing is certain, if they do stick to their words then rugby will be a much better game to watch.
Kick-off at Eden Park on Friday night is keenly awaited.
Will the crowds turn up? Will the World Cup effervescence continue? Will there be superior backplay? Will referees insist on the hindmost foot rule at rucks?
So many points of interest and so much rugby to be absorbed – it should be fascinating.