Survival in Division Three and hopefully a place in the top five will suffice for Dublin University this season as the All-Ireland League kicks off on Saturday.
Trinity may well have looked on UCD's encouraging 9-7 win over Carlow last Sunday as a reminder that the ever changing college sides have a well earned place in what has become a more and more competitive competition.
Now under the guidance of Tony Smeeth, formerly of Blackrock, Trinity will have to adjust to 10 new players as they follow their Belfield rivals to Carlow.
Trinity's front five of Australian Aaron Watkins, Keith Murphy, Mark Fearon, David Sowerby and Trevor Hogan are all new to the side and with a sprinkling of former Blackrock boys in Colm Curneen and back row Richie Woods, the college team will have to do a lot of growing very fast indeed.
"We've done quite well but we're still quite young. For example our whole front five is under 21. I'd like to think we will be a force in a year or two. Our ultimate goal is going to be a top five place," says Smeeth.
Carlow are also hit with injury and although they, like most of the Division Three and Four sides have not yet selected, are without hooker Justin Hannon (shoulder) and Kiwi Andrew Melville, who has an ongoing knee problem which may require surgery.
UCD travel to Bohemians with quite a settled side and clearly high on last week's win. Now tipped as one of the sides who will contest the division, having finished third last season to just miss out on promotion, the line-up now has a weathered seasoned enough look.
In Division Four, Queen's will hope to improve on last year's record of 10 games without a win. Their forced changes from last season will clearly mitigate against them as they face Collegians at Malone. Two new wingers, two new centres, an out-half, scrum-half, hooker, two new props and two new second rows will again put a premium on zestful talent.
Former Irish schools players Neil Beggs and David Spence come into the wing and scrum-half positions respectively with Alistar Boyd in as captain.
Collegians go into the game having beaten the students twice this season already.
Bangor travel to Ards with a wrist injury doubt hanging over captain Keith Nevon while Waterpark leave Waterford for Cork where they meet Midleton.
