Last season – 6^th (5 wins).

Last flag: 2017.

Skippers: Andrew Brown, Ian Ross, Mitch Hocking, Nick Belt.

Will be hungry to rebound strongly after coming off its first season out of the finals since 2010-11.

Have regained Mitch Hocking from Kangaroo Flat to skip a rink, and also have Andrew Brown back full-time.

Also have the return of the super talented Amelia Bruggy, who is one of three women in Saturday’s team along with Lee Harris and Sharon Koch, who has been recruited from East.

The club’s recruiting has also included the arrival of four members of White Hills’ division two premiership team last season in Mark Anderson, Geoff Baldwin, Ross Smith and Warren Hamilton.

Last season: 3^rd (7 wins).

Last flag: 2016.

Skippers: Aaron Tomkins, Brad Marron, Chris Randell, Lee Schraner.

Have pulled off Bendigo bowls’ biggest modern-day recruiting coup with the signing of Lee Schraner as its new coach.

Schraner is a multiple Victorian Open champion, first represented Australia in 2010 and recently won his second-consecutive Australian champion of champions title.

Schraner is the only skipping change at Lansell Street as he takes over from Sam Lyon, who has returned to Tongala.

As well as the inclusion of Schraner the Beasties – who have played in the past nine finals series and shape as one of the leading contenders again – have also added former Golden Square skipper Graham Edwards, while Paul Vlaeminck will be back after a season off in what’s another bonus.

Last season: 8^th (3 wins).

Last flag: 1999.

Skippers: Darren Taylor, Greg Podesta, Peter Brain, Rod Phillips.

Fortunate to still be in division one given it was the wooden-spooner last season and division two premier White Hills was eligible for promotion.

However, with White Hills remaining in division two following an exodus of players, Castlemaine has been thrown a lifeline.

Last year’s BBD champion of champions Greg Podesta is stepping up to skip a rink alongside a familiar name in Rod Phillips, who estimates this will be close to season No.30 in a row of skipping at Castlemaine.

Former skipper Rick Parr and Bernie McConnell are returning to the side, but the Maine does have four defections to South Bendigo – Luke Hoskin, who was the team’s best performed skipper last season, Mal Darroch, Paul Darroch and Lachie Darroch.

Last season: 1^st (12 wins).

Last flag: 2018.

Skippers: Brayden Byrne, Darren Burgess, Dean Carter, Simon Carter.

Won the premiership last season and look set to be tough to beat again given all but two of the successful 2017-18 team is returning.

The only departures from the Hawks’ premiership team are David Vanston, who has returned to Inglewood, and Frank Byrne.

Coming in are two big inclusions in Russell Simmonds, who is back after a season away, and Darren Burgess, who has joined the Hawks from Essendon and has been a star in years gone by at rival clubs Bendigo East and Kangaroo Flat.

For the first time since 2010-11 the Hawks won’t have Tony Ellis skipping a rink. Ellis will instead play third to Burgess.

Last season: 5^th (6 wins).

Last flag: 2014.

Skippers: Mal Finch, Tas Wallis, Geoff Walsh, Daryl Cheeseman.

The same four skippers as last season will be leading Golden Square, while player movement has been minimal with the Phil Gooch from Inglewood the only recruit into the division one team.

Have started slowly the past two seasons – they were 1-3 after four rounds last year and 0-7 the previous year, so will be keen to make early inroads to create a platform to build from.

Last season: 7^th (5 wins).

Last flag: None in Div. 1.

Skippers: Daryl Rowley, Lindsay Kelly, Mal McLean, Rob Day.

Like Golden Square, has the same four skippers in place as last season.

Have David Vanston returning after playing in a premiership with Eaglehawk last season, but have lost Nick Davies to Kangaroo Flat and Kevin Tonkin to Barham.

Have shown plenty of positive signs over the past two seasons during which it has spent time in the top four.

The big question though is can Inglewood take the next step and perform consistently enough to finally break through for that long-awaited division one finals appearance?

Last season: 4^th (6 wins).

Last flag: 2005.

Skippers: Barry Anset, Cameron Wilson, John Berry, Paul Moller.

A much quieter off-season at the Flat than the recruiting spree of a year earlier, with the only arrival Nick Davies from Inglewood.

Have lost Mitch Hocking back to Bendigo and one of last season’s skippers, Tom Russell, who has swapped the bowls green for the golf course.

There was plenty of hype around the Flat last season, which ultimately ended with its exit in the elimination final.

With what was largely a new-look team last season, the Flat should be better for a year together now under their belts.

Last season: 2^nd (8 wins).

Last flag: 1994.

Skippers: Brad Holland, Luke Hoskin, Liam Crapper, Mitch Sidebottom.

Have made a preliminary final and grand final in the past two seasons since the arrival of Brad Holland as coach.

There’s a saying that if you keep knocking on the door eventually it will open and that will be the mindset for South as it prepares for another crack at trying to win its first premiership since 1994.

Have suffered a significant loss, though, with the departure of former skipper Ryan Tainton to Essendon.

But have landed replacement skipper Luke Hoskin and the Darroch trio from Castlemaine, plus have Justin Rorke coming back from White Hills.

1. Eaglehawk

2. Bendigo East

3. South Bendigo

4. Kangaroo Flat

5. Bendigo

6. Inglewood

7. Golden Square

8. Castlemaine

Saturday – Castlemaine v Bendigo East, Eaglehawk v Golden Square, Inglewood v Bendigo, South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat.

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