On your marks. get set...
The starting pistol is cocked and ready to send the 12 clubs from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales flying out of the starting blocks and into the 2012/13 Pro12 season.
Defending champions the Ospreys open their defence of the title against Benetton Treviso at Stadio di Monigo in 10 days time without wing wizard Shane Williams, who marked his last game for the club with two tries in the 31-30 Pro12 final win over Leinster Rugby at the RDS in May.
They will also be without former Wales captain Ryan Jones who will miss the start of the campaign following key-hold surgery on a damaged knee.
Leinster, who narrowly missed out on being the first to do the season's double of Pro 12 and Heineken Cup titles, start their challenge with a trip to Parc y Scarlets for a clash with a club now coached by former Ireland back row ace Simon Easterby.
The Heineken Cup champions will be without long-term injured players Sean O'Brien, Luke Fitzgerald, Rhys Ruddock, Dave Kearney and Eoin O'Malley.
But they have added Kiwi prop Michael Bent, South African lock Quinn Roux and former Leeds lock Tom Denton to their forward strength.
Munster Rugby – tournament champions in 2011 – open their bid under new head coach Rob Penney against Edinburgh at Murrayfield and have been bolstered by the arrival of former All Blacks centre Casey Laulala, who made his 2004 Test debut with Munster's favourite adopted son Doug Howlett.
Zebre, the Parma-based club who have replaced Aironi as the other Italian club alongside Benetton Trevsio, play their first tournament match against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade while their home venue of Stadio XXV Aprile will be one of two new stadia hosting Pro 12 action.
The other comes courtesy of Glasgow Warriors having moved home to Scotstoun Stadium, which will be the club's playing, training and administrative base – the first time they have enjoyed an integrated HQ.
The Scarlets will be the first visitors to play at the ground and the Welsh club could come face-to-face with 68-times capped Sean Lamont who has rejoined the Warriors after 52 appearances for the Scarlets.
While Lamont needs no introduction to the Warriors fans, new faces under head coach Gregor Townsend include Tonga World Cup star No.8 Viliami Ma'afu, Newcastle Falcons lock Tim Swinson, All Black back row forward Angus Macdonald, former Border Bulldogs centre Byron McGuigan and Canada's youngest ever international, wing Taylor Paris.
