The wait is finally over, the meaningless games and preseason cups make way for the real thing: the Victorian Premier League Championship.

The start of the season offers hope for all teams as everybody enters the race on the same starting line.

The league kicks off on Friday night with a potentially exciting fixture as current champions Green Gully travel to Kingston Heath Soccer complex to play the Bentleigh Greens.

John Anastasiadis leads Bentleigh Greens into the new season for the first time after taking over the team mid-season from Andy O’Dell in 2011.

He has recruited several players from Perth: ex Perth Glory players Andrija Jukic (attacking midfield), Anthony Skoric (striker) and exciting prospect Phil Arnold (winger).

Two players arrive from Melbourne Victory, midfielder Paolo Retre and goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas. All should provide enough infusion of talent to make the punters ask serious questions about their aspirations this year.

Green Gully have traditionally been slow starters over recent seasons, so the Greens of Bentleigh may be confident of stealing vital early points at home in order to springboard their season.

Two other exciting matches occur on Sunday, the first involving South Melbourne playing their first competitive match in their new Lakeside stadium versus their old rival Moreland Zebras and the second offering being Heidelberg United playing Oakleigh Cannons.

South Melbourne are a vastly different outfit to the team that made finals last year.

Gone is head coach Eddie Krncevic, replaced with former club favourite and Premiership player Peter Tsolakis, who wasted no time in reshaping the squad.

New additions are a plenty: star midfielders Glen and Jason Trifiro, strikers Trent Rixon and Gianni De Nittis followed their coach from Northcote City, Central Defender Luke Byles signed from Heidelberg United and Joseph Keenan returns after a year out with a broken leg.

Others to join are goal keepers Peter Gavalas and Jason Saldaris from Perth. Bradley Norton, Dimi Tsiaris and Dimi Hatzimouratis round off an impressive preseason of recruiting by the Lakesiders.

Moreland Zebras come up from State 1 with Dominic Barba in charge having strengthened the squad with a few additions of their own.

2011 Goalkeeper of the season Griffen McMaster joins Carl Recchia, Daniel Vasilevski and Chris Grossman as quality additions to their squad. Major Sponsor Joe Mirabella is excited to be back in the Victorian Premier League after two seasons,

“This is the game of the year, South Melbourne versus Moreland Zebras … I grew up watching these big matches in 60s and regardless of where the two sides were on the ladder it was always the biggest match.”

At 6:00 pm Oakleigh Cannons travel to Heidelberg United with both clubs starting with new head coaches from last season.

Huss Skenderovic takes over from Arthur Papas and Andy Vlahos replaces George Katasakis respectively. Oakleigh have added Jesse Krncevic and Goran Zoric upfront to their strong squad from last year in contrast to Heidelberg who have seen several of their players depart over the off season.

The Cannons will be firm favourites for this tie, but being away they will find the proud ‘Bergers’ a tough challenge in the first round.

In other matches Northcote City host Richmond on Saturday afternoon with new coach Goran Lozanovski hoping for strong start at home.

Northcote have experienced considerable squad turnover from last year and it will be interesting how the Cup champions gel as a team.