SHEFFIELD Steelers, the defending champions, head to the Recreation Ground this weekend for the annual Bath Eights competition.
And the South Yorkshire side will be joined by 32 other teams looking to win this year's crown.
Last season Steelers turned on the style to whitewash Heaton Mersey 4-0 in the final, having beaten Rochdale 4-0 in the semis and Poynton 5-1 in the quarters.
But this year the Abbeydale Sports Club are sending a development side and will be without influential captain and goalkeeper Simon Firth-Jones.
The Welsh international is unavailable for this year's two-day event - now in it's 22nd and possibly final year at the Rec - one which acts as a curtain-raiser to the new domestic season which faces off on Saturday 29th September in the north.
However, Firth-Jones is confident his ambitious charges can be successful, especially with new American LDO Omar Dupree set to make his debut for the club.
Maryland midfielder Dupree, 22, replaces last year's LDO Matt Karweck, with his predecessor now having signed forms to play professional lacrosse in the United States.
Prior to their Bath Eights success last season, Steelers' last cup success came in the 1983-84 season when they beat Old Hulmeians A 16-11 to land the Junior Flags.
"It was a great achievement winning the Bath Eights title last season," said Firth-Jones. "We'd never won a tournament before that - or at least no one at the club thinks we have!
"It's going to be hard to defend the title this year because we're sending a young side down to Bath, but we've got every chance if we play well.
"Omar's going to be travelling down with the side and will make his debut for us. I'm not available this weekend, so Ben Lyon will captain the team. Ben and Sam Glover are also going to be team captains this season, with a view to the future of the club.
"It may be time for me to stand down next season, I've been captain for four years."
Steelers were relegated from the Men's North of England League Premier Division last season after finishing bottom of the pile with 13 defeats from 18 matches.
But with England defenders Stephen Warwick and Gaz Morgan having rejoined the club, as well as veteran defender Paul Coups making a welcome return after a knee operation, Firth-Jones believes his team will be hard to beat.
"We've got a very strong defence, we'll be building our performances around that strength."
Beaten finalists in 2006, Mersey will look to go one step further this year having faltered at the final hurdle last time around.
Mersey beat Mellor 3-2 in last year's semis, having needed double overtime to edge Wilmslow in the quarters.
As usual, Sunday will see the Bath Mixed Eight's tournament, with teams travelling from far and wide to take part.
Last year the second and final day saw Stellor (a combined Stockport and Mellor team) defeat Cheshire-based Gin & Juice 7-5 to become the new Mixed Tournament champions.
G&J beat Cardiff, one of three Welsh teams competing, 7-3 in the semi-finals, while Stellor edged Swansea 4-2 in their last four meeting.
Last season's Bath Eights tournament results
Final: Sheffield Steelers bt Heaton Mersey 4-0.
Semi-finals: Heaton Mersey bt Mellor 3-2, Sheffield Steelers bt Rochdale 4-0.
Quarter-finals: Rochdale bt Timperley 7-6, Sheffield Steelers bt Poynton 5-1, Mellor bt Brooklands Hulmeians 2-1, Heaton Mersey bt Wilmslow 4-3 (after double over-time)
Sunday Mixed Tournament
Final: Gin & Juice lost to Stellor 5-7.
Semis: Gin & Juice bt Cardiff 7-3, Stellor bt Swansea 4-2.
Qualifying, played in two pools with the usual eights scoring system, the top two teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
Group 1 saw Stellor (71pts) and Swansea (57 pts) qualify ahead of Reading (42 pts) Penarth and Bath City.
Group 2 saw Gin & Juice (50 pts) and Cardiff (32pts) who squeezed through on countback over the Exiles (32 Pts).
