Questions abound for sport in 2018 and so do moments of truth in Australia's fresh sporting year.
SOCCEROOS
The Australian men's soccer team start the year without a coach ahead of the biggest dates in the sport's calendar - the World Cup in Russia in June. While ex-manager Ange Postecoglou won't be there, Tim Cahill wants to enhance his legend and appear at a fourth-consecutive Cup - at the age of 38. If the currently club-less Cahill gets there and scores, he'll join an elite list including Pele to score in four consecutive Cups. Australia meet France, Denmark and Peru as they bid to advance from the group stage for the first time since 2006 - the only time the Socceroos have achieved the feat.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Lawyers for megastar Jarryd Hayne have "unequivocally and vehemently" denied claims of an alleged rape in the US. Court documents have been filed in a civil case in California. Hayne will make his on-field return for Parramatta in an NRL season also to feature Cooper Cronk - another two-time Dally M winner - in Sydney Roosters colours after leaving Melbourne Storm. Another league headline will be the impact of Brad Fittler as NSW Origin coach. Can he end Queensland's recent dominance - the Maroons have won 11 of the past dozen series .
CRICKET
Steve Smith's Australians ruthlessly took the Ashes but, let's face it, the Poms were woeful. A truer test comes in South Africa in a four-Test series in March, then in the Aussie summer when bitter foes India arrive for another four-Test series.
AFL
Richmond's radical deployment of a pint-sized attack delivered he 2017 premiership. But has it set a fresh template which rivals will follow, or was it merely a flash in the pan? Much AFL interest also centres on dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and whether his return to Geelong will be a happy homecoming.
RUGBY UNION
The Wallabies taking the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand in August appears a pipe-dream - after all, the All Blacks have held the coveted trophy for the past 15 years. The Kiwis also boast the past three champions in Super Rugby.
FUN AND GAMES
Will Australia's public warm to a Commonwealth Games on home soil, the Gold Coast, in April? And, in colder climes, can Australia's winter Olympic athletes punch above their collective weight at the PyeongChang Games in February?
ALSO
Other questions to be answered during the year include:
- Whether Australia's Daniel Ricciardo can challenge for the Formula One title - and will he sign a fresh contract with Red Bull Racing?
- Can tennis brat Nick Kyrgios live up to his on-court potential and become the first male Australian major winner since 2001?
- Will golfers Jason Day and Adam Scott rediscover their respective mojos?
- Can surfer Tyler Wright claim three consecutive women's world titles?
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