The Mzansi Super League kicks off at Newlands on Friday night with the Cape Town Blitz hosting the Tshwane Spartans.
But before the action starts in earnest, here’s a handy guide on all six franchises.
CAPE TOWN BLITZ
Head coach: Ashwell Prince
Captain: Farhaan Behardien (Full-time), Dawid Malan (Stand-in)
Proteas marquee: Quinton de Kock
International marquee: Malan (England)
Other foreign players: Muhammad Nawaz (Pakistan), Asif Ali (Pakistan), Hussain Tallat (Pakistan, stand-in)
Rest of squad: Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Anrich Nortje, Janneman Malan, Malusi Siboto, George Linde, Ferisco Adams, Jason Smith, Sibonelo Makhanya, Kyle Vereynne, Dane Piedt.
Strength: Power-packed batting line-up with big strikers
Weakness: A potential over-reliance on the experience of Dale Steyn in the bowling department?
DURBAN HEAT
Coach: Grant Morgan
Captain: Albie Morkel
Proteas marquee: Hashim Amla
International marquee: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Other foreign players: Brandon Mavuta (Zimbabwe)
Rest of squad: David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Abbott, Keshav Maharaj, Khaya Zondo, Albie Morkel, Marchant de Lange, Vernon Philander, Temba Bavuma, Morne van Wyk, Okuhle Cele, Sarel Erwee, Tladi Bokako.
Strength: A classy, varied bowling attack
Weakness: The Heat might rue having just one wrist spinner – Khan – for only parts of the tournament.
JOZI STARS
Coach: Enoch Nkwe
Captain: Dane Vilas
Proteas marquee: Kagiso Rabada
International marquee: Chris Gayle (West Indies)
Other foreign players: Dan Christian (Australia)
Rest of squad: Rassie van der Dussen, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Eddie Leie, Pite van Biljon, Duanne Olivier, Ryan Rickelton, Sine Qeshile, Simon Harmer, Calvin Savage, Alfred Mothoa.
Strength: Their pace trio of Rabada, Olivier and Beuran Hendricks will decimate batting orders on juicy surfaces.
Weakness: Some of the batsman are prone to being inconsistent.
NELSON MANDELA BAY GIANTS
Coach: Eric Simons
Captain: Jon-Jon Smuts
Proteas marquee: Imran Tahir
International marquee: Jason Roy (England)
Other foreign players: Ben Duckett (England)
Rest of squad: Chris Morris, Junior Dala, Chris Jonker, Aaron Phangiso, Sisanda Magala, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Dyllan Matthews, Lizaad Williams, Rudi Second, Carmi le Roux.
Strength: Possibly the most exciting group of aggressive batsman in any of the franchises.
Weakness: A potential lack of oomph in the attack.
PAARL ROCKS
Coach: Adrian Birrell
Captain: Faf du Plessis (full-time), Henry Davids (stand-in)
Proteas marquee: Du Plessis
International marquee: Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)
Other foreign players: Michael Klinger (Australia)
Rest of squad: Tabraiz Shamsi, Dane Paterson, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle, Bjorn Fortuin, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Grant Thomson, Tshepo Moreki, Henry Davids, Cameron Delport, Eathan Bosch, Patrick Kruger, Kerwin Mungroo, David Wiese (stand-in).
Strength: Classy striker of a ball.
Weakness: Depth with the ball is lacking.
TSHWANE SPARTANS
Coach: Mark Boucher
Captain: AB de Villiers
Proteas marquee: De Villiers
International marquee: Eoin Morgan (England)
Other foreign players: Jeevan Mendis (Sri Lanka), Sean Williams (Zimbabwe), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
Rest of squad: Lungi Ngidi, Robbie Frylinck, Theunis de Bruyn, Rory Kleinveldt, Gihahn Cloete, Lutho Sipamla, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Andrew Birch, Shaun von Berg, Eldred Hawken.
Strength: Not the most athletic but one of the most skillful attacks in the tournament.
Weakness: Relying too much on AB magic in the batting department.
For more sport your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.