That player is Christian Lealiifano. His current off-field heroics defy belief, but even he will sidelined for months as he comes back from fighting leukaemia.

By simple deduction that means the race to top the Australian Super Rugby conference this year is between two horses, in red and blue colours.

It might be a crude tool to evaluate the five squads but time has shown it to be remarkably accurate. In Super Rugby no quality drivers means no chance, no matter what huff and puff can be mustered up by the packs.

This year will see the revival of an old rivalry and it will be good for the game.

Queensland, of course, should romp it. Two years ago the majority of their tight five helped the Wallabies to a World Cup final.

Moreover, in George Smith they have the one of the top five players I have seen wear the Wallabies jersey in the years that I have seriously watched the game – a period that began around the 1991 World Cup. Only the callowness of their coaching crew can prevent them from establishing a 20-point buffer at the top of conference.

Of course, I am not entirely serious. In fact, I have an issue with the nostalgic recruitment policy. The idea of going back to former players such as Quade Cooper, Stephen Moore and Scott Higginbotham makes me nervous regardless of those involved.

This is for two reasons, one on either side of the transaction. As far as the club is concerned I worry they have paid overs for the big names because they clearly have identified inexperience as a weakness and may have been prepared to dangle some big carrots to address it.

On the players' side I worry they've gone back because they know they'll feel comfortable in familiar surrounds. But there is a fine line between feeling comfortable and feeling cosy. Will they be challenged like they need to be?

Those reservations spur me to conclude the top of the Australian conference will be tight. I have no doubt the Reds will be up there, however. Despite his best attempts to wreck his reputation by choice of boxing opponents, Cooper still has credibility as a footballer. His partnership with No.9 Nick Frisby – a larrikin who deserves a medal for a recent video segment in which he impersonated Michael Cheika – and Samu Kerevi genuinely excites.

As for the Tahs they have third-choice halfbacks of better quality than some rivals' starters. They are also led by Michael Hooper and run by intelligent men whether that is first choice No.10 Bernard Foley or the underrated Bryce Hegarty. The former Rebel has been held back by injury but I expect him to progress this year.

In fact, they are deep in quality across most positions. I note the current hype surrounding Irae Simone but even if he shoots out of the blocks he will not maintain form throughout the season. The environment is too tough. But NSW still have Rob Horne who can come off his wing to centre and still they will look strong.

Oddly, the man they cannot do without is Dean Mumm, despite his punching bag status among Wallabies fans.

If he falls to injury I think their campaign is toast. If there is one area where they look weak it is the second row and the ability to execute at lineout time.

As for the other three sides, this is not an exercise in bashing them to set up an argument for cutting one of them from the competition. My opinion is well known – I think four is the better number – but my understanding is that the ARU does not give a fig about the actual number, whether four or five.

The desire for alignment is the dominant philosophy at the top of the organisation regardless of whether the status quo is preserved or not.

However, you cannot enter this competition without an outstanding No.9-No.10 partnership and harbour serious hopes of finals football.

So I am ignoring the current hoopla about a potentially meaningless rugby State of Origin and getting excited about a NSW versus Queensland rivalry, because I think it's coming back.