First up in the opening double-header at the Wanderers are the Cobras against the high-flying Knights (start 13.30; TV: SuperSport 2). While form in the first-class game may not count as much in T20, attitude does.
This is an opportunity for the Cobras particularly to revitalise their miserable season which has been beset with player-coach antipathy and unrest.
They are the only team to begin the competition with an overseas star, in West Indian Keiron Pollard, who was belatedly granted a No-Objection Certificate. Perhaps an outside influence will help gel the team, which is not without talent. If he gets going with someone like Richard Levi, they can post formidable totals and really apply the pressure.
A win against the Knights will go a long way to turbo-boosting their campaign. But the Knights have muscle of their own, in Theunis de Bruyn and David Miller wielding the willow and Duanne Olivier and Marchant de Lange leading a formidable pace attack.
The Titans begin the defence of their title against a much-changed Highveld Lions (start 18.00; TV: SuperSport 2). Memory of the last campaign may not sit comfortably with the Joburgers, particularly, carrying the stain of the Ram Slam match-fixing scandal. They may feel the need for atonement. They are led by spinner Aaron Phangiso, who has under him a side recently shorn of Dwaine Pretorius, covering for Dale Steyn in Australia.
The Dolphins, beaten finalists last year, have a good opportunity to start off on the right note against the Warriors at Kingsmead on Sunday (start 14.30; TV: SuperSport 2).
The Durbanites are in a peculiar situation. They were given a high-octane start to their campaign last year when Kevin Pietersen almost single-handedly put them on top of the log, scoring 364 in five games. It was enough to carry them through to the final. He scored just 10 in that match and the Dolphins lost by seven wickets.
This year, though, KP will be joining them for the latter part of the season. They will have no Dwayne Bravo or David Miller as backup. They cannot allow themselves to drop too far off the pace and expect KP to haul them in through the last games.
The later stages could get interesting, for the Proteas players will be done with their tour of Australia and available for selection. The likes of Quinton de Kock, top run-scorer last year; Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw, Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi could make a significant impact.
