Another year, another SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division campaign, and once again Shamrock Rovers are the team everyone else is aiming to dethrone.
Stephen Bradley's men scooped the league and FAI Cup double last term, the first time the club has won the double since 1987.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown of course, and with the likes of Derry City in particular investing heavily to really put it up to the Hoops, boss Bradley is braced for a massive battle.
And that, he insists, is exactly how they like it.
"You get a feeling off the group and they're still hungry," he told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue at the League of Ireland's season launch on Wednesday.
"They're still working really hard. This group is about wanting to be the best every day and the moment you stop that, whether that's as a staff member or as a player, well then this isn't for you. This club isn't for you.
"I have a really good feeling. The group's in a good place. They're willing to work. Can we go and achieve what we did last year? We want to. That's the aim, but time will tell whether we can do that. If we show up like we always do, everything else will look after itself."
Derry have had an eye-catching off-season transfer-wise, bringing James McClean back to the club as well as his brother Patrick, Darragh Markey, James Clarke, Josh Thomas, James Olayinka and Kevin dos Santos.
The Candystripes face Shamrock Rovers in the President's Cup final at Tallaght Stadium this Saturday, so they'll both get an opportunity to size each other up. Bradley has bolstered his squad by bringing in Jake Mulraney and 26-times-capped Republic of Ireland full-back Enda Stevens.
"They've obviously spent a lot of money, which is good for Derry and good for the league," Bradley said.
"It's what we want. So yeah, it's going to be tight this year. I think when you look around the squads, everybody's strengthened really well and obviously we're really strong as well. I'd imagine it's going to be a really competitive season.
"I had a little break but you do miss it when you're away for a week or so. I'm really looking forward to getting back going."
On his new additions Stevens and Mulraney he added: "Enda has trained with us since before Christmas; looks good. It's just about building him in now. He hasn't had a lot of game time, so it's about building that, but Enda's level that he's played at, it's quite clear he still has that and still has the desire to want to get up every morning and run and challenge all these young lads that are coming through.
"He's going to be a big player for us this year, Enda.
"Everyone will have to fight (for a starting spot) but we wouldn't have went after Jake and we wouldn't have wanted him at the club if he didn't feel he improved us and we can improve him. And look, I've loved to work with him since he's been in. He's been top class and I'm really, really looking forward to seeing him in this team and in full flow with this team."
"He's ready to go. He's really fit. He's trained hard this morning. He looks good. Like I said, his attitude's been brilliant. He has undoubted quality and we'll see him on Saturday."
It's an exciting time for the LOI, with crowds and interest levels continuing to rise.
Lots done, plenty more to do was Bradley's assessment as we head towards the big kick-off on Friday week.
"We just need to keep interacting with our communities, with the fans, with the wider public," he said.
"We need to keep growing and we all have our part to play in that. All stakeholders have a part to play in that. I think on the pitch, every club is doing their very best and it's getting better and better.
"The level of players is really high. There's young players, there's players that have been internationals coming back, there's a nice blend there, there's a nice mix but I think we really need to keep connecting with the communities, the local schools, the local clubs and really showing them what the League of Ireland football is all about.
"I think the media coverage that we get is good but can get better. Like I said, we all have a part to play and keep growing. We know the obvious (question) is, can we improve facilities all around the league?
"I think we will. I think we're going to get there but we can't just wait for that and think it's going to be the thing that solves all problems. It's not. It can definitely help us but we've got to make sure we keep doing our part on and off the pitch."
