The Queensland Reds launch their Super Rugby Pacific season in Brisbane on Friday looking to continue Australia's perfect start with a win over Ardie Savea's Moana Pasifika.
Having requested a bye in round one to rest after an overseas tour, the Reds watched on as the Brumbies, New South Wales Waratahs and Western Force all celebrated victories to give Australian fans some early-season cheer.
Though knocked out in the quarterfinals last year in a stinging defeat by the Chiefs, the Reds were much-improved under first-year coach Les Kiss and are now eager to build on those gains.
"For us it's about the excitement of being back home," Kiss told reporters.
"We've put in a lot of work over the last two months to get ready for this game.
"There's no guarantees but our boys want to go out and show everyone what they're about and it starts on Friday night."
BOLSTERED SQUAD FROM DISBANDED REBELS
While the Waratahs were the main beneficiaries of the demise of the Rebels, scooping up players following the Melbourne club's collapse, Queensland have also bolstered their squad with Wallabies from the disbanded team.
Fiji-born speedster Filipo Daugunu has returned to the Reds on the wing as one of 10 Wallabies in the starting side.
Australia coach Joe Schmidt will likely be an interested spectator as his captain Harry Wilson faces off with fellow No 8 Savea, the Moana skipper and All Blacks enforcer.
"It doesn't come much better, does it?" said Kiss.
"What a man Ardie is, and what we've seen from Harry, he's come out of the ground in the last 12 months.
"Two warriors in their own right."
The Reds-Moana game follows Friday's opener in Hamilton where the Crusaders host the Chiefs.
The Crusaders, sparked by a hat-trick of tries from halfback Kyle Preston, upset the Hurricanes 33-25 in a statement win at home following last year's horror first season under Rob Penney.
Shocking the Chiefs would leave no one in any doubt that the Crusaders are back in business but last year's runners-up come into the home match with momentum after beating the Blues in a rematch of last year's Grand Final.
The champion Blues will look to bounce back when they travel south to the Highlanders on Saturday, while Fijian Drua will also chase their first win on the road against the Hurricanes after a rare home defeat by the Brumbies.
The Brumbies return home to Canberra Stadium to face Western Force on Saturday, while the Waratahs have a bye after opening with a tight home win against the Highlanders last week.
