St Helens won all three major trophies in 2006 with something to spare and, although they are strongly fancied to retain them, the signs are they will have to work harder in Super League XII.

The bookmakers have made the BBC sports team of the year odds-on favourites to finish top of the table for a third successive season and, if skipper Paul Sculthorpe can bounce back from his latest knee operation, they will certainly be the team to beat.

However, while Saints are, if anything, slightly weaker following the departure of Jamie Lyon and Paul Anderson, their main rivals have strengthened considerably, which could take the Super League title race down to the wire.

Hull were the surprise package last season, reaching their first Grand Final despite changing coach in mid-stream, and, although William Hill make them only third favourites, they could once more be St Helens' chief rivals.

They have retained all their leading players and the acquisitions of Matt Sing, Hutch Maiava, Wayne Godwin, Danny Tickle and Willie Manu has given them valuable strength in depth.

With a full pre-season under vastly experienced coach Peter Sharp, Hull could go one better than last year and certainly look good value at 6-1.

Leeds, who faded badly in each of the last two seasons, are the bookmakers' second favourites, largely on the back of the capture of exciting full-back Brent Webb.

The Queensland-born New Zealand international was outstanding in the recent Tri-Nations Series and is already being seen as a front-runner for the 2007 Man of Steel award.

Webb is sure to become a huge favourite with his attacking runs, but the worry for the Rhinos is that they may again rely too heavily up front on Jamie Peacock and much could depend on the impact made by ex-Manly prop Kylie Leuluai.

Another Leuluai, Kylie's scrum-half cousin Thomas, will have a key role to play if Wigan are to bring back the good times to the JJB Stadium.

It is unthinkable that the Warriors could miss out on the play-offs for a third successive year and, with the brilliant Trent Barrett on board, they ought to be back challenging arch-rivals St Helens.

The new half-back partnership of Barrett and Leuluai promises to deliver the goods but the Achilles' heel for Brian Noble's team could be in the pack, where they look to be at least one prop light.

Noble will be desperately hoping youngsters Paul Prescott and Eamonn O'Carroll can dig in and supplement the work of Stuart Fielden and Iafeta Paleaaesina.

Warrington look to have no such problems up front, where the arrival of Adrian Morley will add aggression and mobility to the bulk of last year's pack.

Paul Cullen has also acquired the services of Paul Johnson and Vinnie Anderson, who never achieved his potential at St Helens, and his team could be the dark horses this year.

However, the Wolves are notorious slow starters and they have arguably the toughest start with opening fixtures against Wigan, Bradford and Hull.

The Bulls, having failed for the first time since 2000 to reach the Grand Final last year, are sure to be in the mix after a full close season under Steve McNamara, with many eyes on the ball-distribution skills of new signing David Solomona.

Wakefield, who avoided relegation on the final day of the season back in September, are certain to miss the skilful Kiwi and they could once more struggle to avoid the drop.

The Wildcats are the only club to have ignored players from Australia's National Rugby League in their close-season recruitment and they will need all the wily skills of veteran coach John Kear if their gamble on unfulfilled British talent is to pay off.

If not, Wakefield could be saved again by Super League's promoted side, who are inevitably installed as hot favourites for the wooden spoon collected last year by Catalans Dragons.

Hull Kingston Rovers coach Justin Morgan has attempted to avoid the upheaval that promoted teams traditionally go through by keeping 18 players from last year's full-time National League squad as well as recruiting sensibly.

But to bridge the yawning gap that exists between the two divisions in just 12 months looks a thankless task and Rovers seem certain to struggle.

The Catalans have recruited well, especially from Australia, and ought to begin their climb up the ladder, while Huddersfield and Salford should comfortably achieve mid-table status.

The Reds performed brilliantly to finish fifth last year but they have lost their surprise factor and coach Karl Harrison knows it is a tough act to follow.

The great unknowns are Harlequins, who suffered a couple of major blows with the loss of experienced forwards Solomon Haumono and Sione Fauimuina, the latter without ever playing a game, and have to blend a new half-back pairing following the loss of Leuluai and Luke Dorn.

They will also be without influential skipper Mark McLinden for the opening weeks and a bad start could signal a long hard season ahead for Brian McDermott's men.