Australian Rugby union chief executive Bill Pulver has boldly predicted three local teams will make this year's Super Rugby finals.
Last year, Pulver predicted an Australian team would win the competition and NSW Waratahs delivered on that, earning their maiden title.
Australia has had two Super finalists on a few occasions, but Pulver's optimism for 2015 is based on the performances of the five franchises last year and the quality of their recruiting for the coming campaign.
"2014 was the strongest year of Super rugby we've ever had, we won more games in 2014 than ever before," Pulver said at the Australian Super season launch in Sydney on Wednesday.
"If you look through the five squads, there's been some very interesting new players coming forward this year and I have no question they are all going to perform well again.
"I think the real prediction is that in a finals series where you only have six teams Australia will get three in the finals series this year and that would be a superb outcome."
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who also coaches the Waratahs, didn't feel Pulver's prediction would put added pressure on his defending champion side and the other Australian franchises.
"That's the marketing department working overtime," Cheika said with a chuckle.
All five Australian teams will play a trial match this weekend, with the season starting on February 13.
Cheika is treating the Waratahs defence as a step into unknown territory, but won't be tinkering with the successful brand of rugby they played last year.
"It's about going somewhere you haven't gone before," Cheika told AAP.
"We don't need to change anything we need to just improve.
"I'm not worried about the results."
His captain Dave Dennis is looking to make his comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in the Waratahs' final trial.
New Brumbies and former Wallabies captain and hooker Stephen Moore expects to go into their season opener without having played any trial minutes, following a knee reconstruction.
Queensland coach Richard Graham said he would look to involve off-season recruits Karmichael Hunt and James O'Connor in the Reds' first trial against the Rebels in Cairns on Saturday.
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