Newtonmore this weekend start their bid to win the Premiership for the fifth successive season but have injury problems for their opener.
The champions welcome Lochaber to the Eilan on Saturday but will be without defender Rory Kennedy and forward Chris Sellar for the opening months of the campaign.
Attacker Danny MacRae is doubtful but forward Evan Menzies, who spent last year in Australia, comes back into the squad.
New captain Scott Chisholm knows the size of the challenge ahead. He said: “Winning the Premiership and the Camanachd Cup double was a great thrill last year and we want to hold on to the league trophy. But with the Premiership trimmed from 10 clubs to eight, there will be really tight competition for points. We know every game will be a real struggle and it’s up to us to once again find our consistency.”
Inverness-based international engineering recruitment firm the Orion Group has, meanwhile, agreed to sponsor the Premiership for a third season.
Scott Burns-Smith, Orion’s head of marketing, said: “Sponsoring projects within different cultural communities is part of our ethos, so we’re very pleased to offer our support to shinty once again.”
Camanachd Association president Archie Robertson said: “The Orion Premiership showcases the best of shinty, so it is fitting that the pairing with such a prestigious and successful Scottish company continues.”