Here we go again.

The 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 season kicks off this weekend with some absolutely cracking fixtures to start things off.

On Friday holders Leinster take on Challenge Cup winners Cardiff, while Connacht take on Glasgow Warriors on Saturday in what promises to be a fast-paced and exciting affair with plenty of running rugby.

Other notable fixtures include Munster vs the Cheetahs at Thomond Park and Ulster hosting last year’s finalists the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium.

But what’s on people’s minds ahead of the new season? Here are five talking points…

Munster.
A lot to talk about here. Johann van Graan’s first full season. No Simon Zebo, but added Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery and Mike Haley. The southern province weren’t far off last time round, losing to eventual winners Leinster by just a point at the semi-final stages.

How will Munster fair this season? How will they line out? Can they build on last season? It’s an exciting time to be a Munster fan, but also for neutrals who will be keen to see how the likes of Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne get on down in Limerick.

The South African clubs.
The Kings and Cheetahs begin their second season in the PRO14 this weekend. Their first can be classed as a success all things considered if you ask me. The Cheetahs were formidable at home and qualified for the play-offs.

The Kings didn’t have the same success, but they had some highlights. It will be interesting to see how they both get on this time round, now that they know the league and the style of play a lot better.

The Dragons revolution.
Bernard Jackman has said time and time again that his project with the Dragons is a long-term one, and that was pretty evident last year. The Welsh side struggled for results, but at the same time pulled off a few memorable results.

This season however, they’ve got the likes of Ross Moriarty, Richard Hibbard, Jordan Williams, Josh Lewis and Aaron Jarvis on their books, and look set to be a lot stronger. No doubt there will be a keen interest on the Welsh side.

Can Leinster get even better?
Leinster capped off an incredible campaign last season by lifting the PRO14 trophy at the Aviva just weeks after winning the Champions Cup in Bilbao. But can they get even better this season?

Guys like Jordan Larmour and James Ryan are coming into just their second season. Johnny Sexton is beginning to peak once again, Tadhg Furlong gets better every week. Sean O’Brien is back fit.

Don’t bet against it.

New bosses at Connacht and Ulster.
Two of the four Irish provinces have new men in charge this season with Andy Friend taking over at Connacht and Dan McFarland taking over at Ulster. Both teams have struggled in recent seasons, but have looked decent in pre-season.

It will be interesting to see how both sides go under new management, especially Ulster who have had a torrid 12 months or so.