Sportsmail's guide to Super League XIII

LAST SEASON: 3rd

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 4/1 (all odds quoted by Stan James.com)

PREDICTION: 4th

COACH: Steve McNamara. CAPTAIN: Paul Deacon.

SIGNINGS: Paul Sykes (Harlequins), Ben Jeffries (Wakefield), Semi Tadulala (Wakefield), Chris Nero (Huddersfield), Wayne Godwin (Hull), Simon Finnigan (Salford).

KEY MAN: Terry Newton.

RISING STAR: Sam Burgess. Can they win something without dynamic winger Lesley Vainikolo and can their pack roll over teams like they used to?

CASTLEFORD TIGERS

LAST SEASON: Promoted from National League One.

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 500/1 PREDICTION: 12th

COACH: Terry Matterson. JOINT CAPTAINS: Awen Guttenbeil & Brent Sherwin.

SIGNINGS: Luke Dorn (Salford), Scott Moore (St Helens, loan), Michael Korkidas (Salford), Tom Haberecht (Balmain), Brent Sherwin (Canterbury).

KEY MAN: Brent Sherwin.

RISING STAR: Joe Westerman. The Tigers are back, without the threat of relegation hanging over them this time. But it will still be a tough season down at The Jungle.

CATALANS DRAGONS

LAST SEASON: 10th and Challenge Cup runners-up.

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 100/1 PREDICTION: 10th

COACH: Mick Potter. CAPTAIN: Casey McGuire.

SIGNINGS: Dane Carlaw (Brisbane), Olivier Elima (Wakefield).

KEY MAN: Casey McGuire.

RISING STAR: Dimitri Pelo. Can they overcome the loss of their captain and talisman Stacey Jones? The little Kiwi general has finally retired. Big responsibility for new skipper Casey McGuire.

HARLEQUINS RL

LAST SEASON: 9th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 100/1 PREDICTION: 11th

COACH: Brian McDermott. CAPTAIN: Rob Purdham.

SIGNINGS: Gareth Haggerty (Salford), Dwayne Barker (Castleford), Danny Ward (Hull KR), David Howell (Canberra).

KEY MAN: Mark McLinden.

RISING STAR: Michael Worrincy. The bookies make Brian McDermott favourite to be the first coach to lose his job this year. How he'd love to prove them wrong and probably will.

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

LAST SEASON: 5th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 50/1 PREDICTION: 7th

COACH: Jon Sharp. CAPTAIN: Chris Thorman.

SIGNINGS: George Gatis (NZ Warriors), Luke Robinson (Salford), Paul Whatuira (Wests Tigers), David Hodgson (Salford), Danny Kirmond (Featherstone).

KEY MAN: Luke Robinson.

RISING STAR: Tom Hemingway. Made giant strides last year after losing their first seven games but can't afford another bad start. Hodgson is already out injured.

HULL FC

LAST SEASON: 4th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 7/1 PREDICTION: 6th

COACH: Peter Sharp. CAPTAIN: Lee Radford.

SIGNINGS: Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane), Adam Dykes (Cronulla), Todd Byrne (NZ Warriors), Peter Cusack (South Sydney).

KEY MAN: Shaun Berrigan.

RISING STAR: Craig Hall. Have suffered a crop of injuries pre-season but have made some excellent signings. Coach Peter Sharp is keen to extend his stay.

HULL KR

LAST SEASON: 11th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 66/1 PREDICTION: 8th

COACH: Justin Morgan. CAPTAIN:Michael Vella.

SIGNINGS: Shaun Briscoe (Hull), Ben Galea (Wests), Jake Webster (Gold Coast), Peter Fox (Wakefield), Chev Walker (Bath RU), Daniel Fitzhenry (Wests), David Mills (Harlequins), Clint Newton (Melbourne), Garret Crossman (Melbourne), Luke Menzies (Batley), Liam Watts (Castleford).

KEY MAN: Paul Cooke.

RISING STAR: Kirk Netherton. Lost too many home games last season. Strengthened during the close season and should do well but will miss Cooke's influence during his six-match ban.

LEEDS RHINOS

LAST SEASON: 2nd and Grand Final winners.

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 9/4 PREDICTION: 1st

COACH: Brian McClennan. CAPTAIN: Kevin Sinfield.

SIGNINGS: None.

KEY MAN: Rob Burrow.

RISING STAR: Ashley Gibson. New coach Brian McClennan has a hard act to follow but hopes to lead the Rhinos to their first back-to-back titles. First he wants to win the World Club Challenge against Melbourne.

ST HELENS

LAST SEASON: 1st but lost in Grand Final. Won World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup.

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 9/4 PREDICTION: 2nd

COACH: Daniel Anderson. CAPTAIN: Paul Sculthorpe.

SIGNINGS: None.

KEY MAN: Paul Sculthorpe.

RISING STAR: Steve Tyrer. Coach Daniel Anderson is definitely heading home at the end of the year so expect another big season from the Saints — particularly if Paul Sculthorpe gets back to form and fitness.

WAKEFIELD TRINITY WILDCATS

LAST SEASON: 8th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 66/1 PREDICTION: 9th

COACH: John Kear. CAPTAIN: Jason Demetriou.

SIGNINGS: Brad Drew (Huddersfield), Paul Reilly (Huddersfield), Tony Martin (NZ Warriors), Danny Brough (Castleford), Damien Blanch (Widnes), Scott Grix (Widnes), Oliver Wilkes (Widnes).

KEY MAN: Danny Brough.

RISING STAR: Sean Gleeson. John Kear's men flew out of the traps last year after avoiding relegation but they faded at the back end of the season. They could spring a few surprises again.

WARRINGTON WOLVES

LAST SEASON: 7th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 7/1 PREDICTION: 3rd

COACH: Paul Cullen. CAPTAIN: Adrian Morley.

SIGNINGS: Matt King (Melbourne), Chris Hicks (Manly), Michael Monaghan (Manly), Louis Anderson (NZ Warriors).

KEY MAN: Michael Monaghan.

RISING STAR: Kevin Penny. Is this the season when Warrington finally reward their long-suffering fans? They have certainly brought out the cheque-book.

WIGAN WARRIORS

LAST SEASON: 6th

ODDS TO FINISH TOP: 14/1 PREDICTION: 5th

COACH: Brian Noble. CAPTAIN: Sean O'Loughlin.

SIGNINGS: Andy Coley (Salford), George Carmont (Newcastle), Richie Mathers (Gold Coast), Karl Pryce (Gloucester RU).

KEY MAN: Trent Barrett.

RISING STAR: Darrell Goulding. New owner Ian Lenagan says there will be no salary cap breaches from now on, so coach Brian Noble is at least two points better off to start with. Wigan could be ready to rise again.