Golden coach Wong Yiu-shun is predicting a three-horse race for honours when the new season kicks off in September.
Wong said Golden, South China and Instant-Dict would again challenge for the four trophies at stake but tipped Sing Tao to cause an upset or two.
'I see it between these clubs. There isn't much between Golden, South China and Instant-Dict and I see these teams reaching the finals of the domestic cups,' said Wong.
'Sing Tao look like the danger team because they appear stronger than last season.' Golden began their pre-season training at the weekend with the 20-member squad toiling under the blazing sun at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
Wong said Golden were stronger all-round than last season even though the club had been forced to make a number of positional changes after key players left the team.
'Players like Mike Duxbury and Lo Kai-wah left a gap for us to fill but we have other good players to replace them with like Lam Hing-lun, Loh Wai-chi and Colin Pascoe,' Wong said. 'Darren Jackson might play more of a defensive-midfield role so it shouldn't be a problem.' Meanwhile, local league and Viceroy Cup champions Instant-Dict began their campaign in the Feng Shan Cup on a winning note by beating the Korean Housing Bank team 1-0 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
