The new English Premiership rugby union season gets underway on Friday but the old problem of how to top Leicester remains.
Whenever England lose an international match -- and that has been too often for comfort during Leicester great Martin Johnson's time as national manager -- an explanation put forward by some observers has been the 'safety first' mentality of the country's leading domestic competition.
But there are signsthe best teams in the Premiership have been adjusting to the more up tempo game created by law changes that have enabled the side in possesion to keep hold of the ball in attack for longer periods.
This is the last Premiership season before the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand but that is unlikely to have any bearing on Leicester's approach even if, it has an effect on players at many top-flight clubs.
Leicester have contested the last six Premiership finals and been crowned champions nine times in 23 seasons of English league rugby.
In England scrum-half Ben Youngs, a home grown talent, they ave one of the most exciting young players in the country while continuity is provided by coach Richard Cockerill.
The former Leicester and England prop summed up his approach, and indeed that of the club as a whole, by telling the Sunday Telegraph: "What else do you need apart from a ball and 30 blokes?
"We're always trying to find the bit of science, the next little thing that will make a difference.
"Actually, good players who are good people, who work very hard, make the difference," he added.
Leicester have lost 'one of their own' in England flanker Lewis Moody, who has moved to Premiership rivals Bath, but still look enviably strong.
They were pushed close last term by Premiership final runners-up Saracens and the London club, under the guidance of former Springbok Brendan Venter, will be looking to go one better this season.
"We are losing a top player in Glen Jackson, but we have cover at outside-half in Alex Goode and Derick Hougaard and we have made many top-class signings," said Venter.
Northampton, Leicester's traditional Midlands rivals and the Tigers opponents on Sunday, have been boosted by the arrival of Scotland back-row Kelly Brown.
London Irish, Wasps and Gloucester can all, on their day, beat any Premiership side but doubts remain over their ability to maintain a title challenge for the whole of the season.
At the other end of the table, newly promoted Exeter will, as is often the case with clubs in their position, be firm favourites to go straight back down. But a few decent results for the southwest club could prompt some nervous looks from the likes of Leeds, Newcastle, Sale and, maybe even Harlequins.
Fixtures
Friday: Sale v Newcastle (1845GMT)
Saturday: Exeter v Gloucester (1400GMT), London Irish v Saracens (1300GMT). Wasps v Harlequins (1530GMT)
Sunday: Leeds v Bath (1400GMT). Northampton v Leicester (1400GMT)
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
