Olympic's quest for back to back titles begins when they host Gungahlin United at O'Connor Enclosed on Sunday in the opening round of the Capital Football National Premier League.

The expanded 10-team competition features the Canberra United Academy for the first time. However, both they and the FFA Centre of Excellence are ineligible to play in the finals.

Olympic benefited from that last year when they finished fifth on the table behind the FFA COE to scrape into the finals.

From there, Olympic went on a giant-killing run ending in a comprehensive victory against league champions Canberra FC in the grand final.

Olympic coach Frank Cachia wants his squad to hit the ground running from the start of the season to put them in the mix for as much silverware as possible.

"Winning becomes a routine and they become creatures of habit a bit," Cachia said.

"When you start winning and start doing things regularly they just happen.

"We only lost once in our last nine games and that was to Tigers FC at Cooma, so we were able to get on a roll late in the season."

Olympic have kept the bulk of their squad together, with Adrian Macor (CU Academy), Jon Toole (sabbatical) and Oliver Wiederkehr (retired) the only departures.

They regain Victor Yanes after he took last year off, Jeremy Habtemariam from Gungahlin United and goalkeeper Jack Pettit from Monaro Panthers, while fellow Gungahlin recruit Michael John is unfortunately out for the season with a torn ACL.

Pettit has been recruited to cover for Olympic goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou, who will be with the Australian futsal team at the 2016 FIFA World Cup in Colombia in September.

Olympic, Canberra FC, Belconnen United and Tigers FC are the leading title contenders.

Tigers FC coach Gaby Wilk has recruited strongly, regaining lethal striker Stephen Domenici and bringing Daniel Barac with him from Gungahlin United and signing Canberra FC goalkeeper Jakob Cole.

"We've got a lot of new players, maybe eight or nine, so I think we'll do okay," Wilk said.

"I've known Stephen and Danny for a long time.

"I will play more attacking football as we've got a lot of forwards and attacking midfielders."

Tigers FC host Woden-Weston FC on Sunday while Canberra FC take on Monaro Panthers.

The season kicks off on Saturday with the FFA COE taking on Tuggeranong United at the AIS, and Belconnen United entertaining the CU Academy.

Belconnen United will be the favourites to defend the women's premier league title, starting their campaign away to Tuggeranong United on Sunday.

"We've retained 95 per cent of the squad from last year, which is awesome," Belconnen coach Antoni Jagarinec said.

"We like to play against the best and hopefully we can provide the Canberra United Academy with some opportunities before they go to nationals."

MEN'S NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND ONE

Saturday

2pm: FFA Centre of Excellence v Tuggeranong United at AIS Grass Field 1

5.30pm: Belconnen United v Canberra United Academy at McKellar Park

Sunday

3pm: Canberra FC v Monaro Panthers, Deakin Stadium

3pm: Tigers FC v Woden Weston FC at Nijong Oval 1

3pm: Canberra Olympic v Gungahlin United at O'Connor Enclosed 1

WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Sunday

2pm: Gungahlin United v Woden-Weston FC at Gungahlin Enclosed

2pm: Tuggeranong United v Belconnen United at Kambah 2

2pm: CU Academy v Canberra FC at Hawker Football Centre

MEN'S NPL TEAM PREVIEWS

Belconnen United

IN: Philippe BORGEAUD, Toby RICHTER (ADFA Vikings), Michael TAURASI, Dustin WELLS (Gungahlin United)

OUT: David ARRANZ (retired), Jack BLACKLEY (overseas), Ross COSTANZO (CU Academy), David KEMP (retired), Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic, mid-season 2015), Benjamin VAN MEURS (Sydney FC NYL), Matt VALERI (retired), Samuel WHITHEAR (CU Academy).

Summary: Midfield general Dustin Wells returns to the Blue Devils in a huge boost to their chances, but they lose plenty of experience with David Arranz and David Kemp retiring.

Tip: Fourth

Canberra FC

IN: Rashad FARID (Gungahlin United), Mitchell KAYE (Tuggeranong United), Ryan KEIR (Sydney Olympic), Rory LARKIN (Woden-Weston FC), Michael MENSAH (Monaro Panthers). Misko NAUMOSKI (Tigers FC)

OUT: Daniel BENNETT (Dandenong Thunder), Sam BROWN (CU Academy), Sean BURKE (Tuggeranong United), Jakob COLE (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (CU Academy), Thomas MILICEVIC (CU Academy), Andy RAKIC (retired), Daniel SUBASIC (CU Academy), Muad ZWED (Kingston City), Marcin ZYGMUNT

Summary: Canberra FC has been hit hardest by the addition of the CU Academy. Always produce a strong squad, but don't have the depth of previous years.

Tip: Third

Canberra Olympic

IN: Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Michael JOHN (Gungahlin United), Jack PETTIT (Monaro Panthers), Jordan TSEKENIS (Belconnen United, mid-season 2015), Victor YANES (sabbatical)

OUT: Adrian MACOR (CU Academy), Jon TOOLE (sabbatical), Oliver WIEDERKEHR (retired)

Summary: Olympic is banking on last year's squad to do the job again, and why not? Possess a potent midfield with Robbie Cattanach and Tom McLaughlin pulling the strings for a lethal attack.

Tip: Second

CU Academy

IN: Sam BROWN (Canberra FC), David CARDER (Monaro Panthers), Ross COSTANZO (Belconnen United), Daniel FABRIZIO (Senior NTC), Joshua GULEVSKI (Senior NTC), Ridwan HANNA (Senior NTC), Finn JURAK (Senior NTC), Niko KRESIC (Canberra FC), Tom KRKLEC (Senior NTC), Adrian MACOR (Canberra Olympic), Tony MADDAFARI (Gungahlin United), Tom MILICEVIC (Canberra FC), Pat O'ROURKE (Senior NTC), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra FC), Antoni TIMOTHEOU (Senior NTC), Jonathan TUREK (Tuggeranong United), Niko UDJUR (Belconnen United), Samuel WHITHEAR (Belconnen United)

OUT: None

Summary: The best up and coming players in Canberra will play an attractive style of football. Every chance of finishing in the top four, but not eligible for finals.

Tip: Sixth

FFA Centre of Excellence

IN: All bar Marc TOKICH

OUT: Daniel ARZANI, Jackson BADIERA (Western Sydney Wanderers), Joe CALETTI (Brisbane Roar), Henry DAVIES (Western Sydney Wanderers), James DELIANOV (Melbourne City), Charlie DEVEREUX, Jamie DIMITROFF (Brisbane Roar), Duro DRAGICEVIC, Perry FOTAKOPOLOS (Western Sydney Wanderers), Joshua HOPE (Melbourne Victory), Cameron JOICE (Newcastle Jets), Peter KEKERIS, Danny KIM (Brisbane Roar), Daniel MASKIN (Sydney FC), Solomon MONAHAN-VAIIKA (Western Sydney Wanderers), Brandon OSIPOV (Melbourne Victory), Nicholas PANETA (Brisbane Roar), Kosta PETRATOS (Perth Glory), Aaron REARDON, Jamal REINERS (Perth Glory), Kye ROWLES, Zac SPETH, Malcolm WARD (Western Sydney Wanderers)

Summary: Always a dangerous opponent depending on which side they put out on any given week. Any points they take off the top four will play a big role in determining the league championship race.

Tip: Fifth

Gungahlin United

IN: Frano BLAZEVIC (Woden-Weston FC), David DEXTER (Woden-Weston FC), Nathan DUCK, David JENKINS (Woden-Weston FC), Michael KITA (Tigers FC), Lucas MONTANA (Tigers FC), Marcial MUNOZ, Jason O'DWYER, Mitch STEENBERGEN (Woden-Weston FC), Jake WILSENER (Monaro Panthers, mid-season 2015)

OUT: Daniel BARAC (Tigers FC), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Woden-Weston FC), Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC), Tal EVANS, Costa FALLAS (Tuggeranong United), Rashid FARID, Josh GASPARI (Western Sydney Wanderers NYL), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Canberra Olympic), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Hassan KAMARA, Danny KRAJACIC (ANU FC), Tony MADDAFARI (CU Academy), Milan POPOVICH (Tigers FC, mid-season 2015), Shane MURRAY, Josh PARISI (work), Nathan TIDMARSH (Bentleigh Greens), Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United)

Summary: A massive overhaul of the squad after players didn't get paid what they were originally promised last year. Bottom four.

Tip: Seventh

Monaro Panthers

IN: Tom HEWITT (UC Pumas), Lachlan HUNTER (Woden-Weston FC), Amanzie KESSIE (Woden-Weston FC), Kwan Hap LEE (O'Connor Knights), Alan MURPHY (Bohemians, Ireland), Luka MARKULIN (Tigers FC), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra FC)

OUT: David CARDER (CU Academy), Tyson COTTAM (Wagga), Martin DENG (Sydney), Marco GAYER (Tuggeranong United), Anthony GIORGI (Canberra FC), Daniel LINSTEAD (US College), Michael MENASH (Canberra FC), Matt MENSER (sabbatical), Samale MOHAMED, Theveshran MOODLEY (White Eagles), Jack PETTIT (Canberra Olympic), Michael POCHI (Spain), Alex TILLEY (Scotland)

Summary: Always capable of taking points off the top four sides, but struggle for consistency. Tough to beat at Riverside.

Tip: Ninth

Tigers FC

IN: Nikolas ABOT (Persebaya Surabaya), Daniel BARAC (Gungahlin United), Jakob COLE (Canberra FC), Stephen DOMENICI (Gungahlin United), Nahuel GUERRERO (FCV Dender E H Belgium), Michael GURNEY (Tuggeranong United), Michael MITRESKI (Albion Park), Milan POPOVICH (Gungahlin United, mid-season 2015), Ala MOBEDI (RSV Eintracht 1949 Germany), Dylan TEXEIRA (Tuggeranong United)

OUT: Tom BARTON (Tuggeranong United), Jose DEFILIPPI (overseas), Liam HIGHMORE (Tuggeranong United), Michael KITA (Gungahlin United), Lucas MONTANA (Gungahlin United), Misko NAUMOSKI (Canberra FC), Daniel ROBERTS (Tuggeranong United), Luke RODEN, Tai TRAN

Summary: No shortage of attacking firepower in Cooma, with Stephen Domenici returning and Daniel Barac also coming across from Gungahlin. Watch for Nahuel Guerrero and Ala Mobedi to make an impact.

Tip: First

Tuggeranong United

IN: Tim ANDERSON (Woden-Weston FC), Ohio ASIKHIA (Woden-Weston FC), Tom BARTON (Tigers FC), Sean BURKE (Canberra FC), Aaron CASHMAN (Woden-Weston FC), Costa FALLAS (Gungahlin United), Marco GAYER (Monaro Panthers), Liam HIGHMORE (Tigers FC), Nikolaos KALFAS, Emilio KISTA, Daniel ROBERTS (Tigers FC), Andrew SLAVICH (Woden-Weston FC)

OUT: Rowan FORBES-SHEPHERD (interstate), Jamie DUNCAN, Lorenzo GIANNINI, Michael GURNEY (Tigers FC), Devin HAIGH, Ethan MUNSTER (interstate), Zac MUNSTER (interstate), Sean MURPHY (Capital League), Harry PETTIT, Matt RICE, Tomas RUIZ, Jonathan TUREK (CU Academy)

Summary: A new coach in Miro Trninic and plenty of new faces in the squad. Capable of a couple upsets at Kambah.

Tip: Tenth

Woden-Weston FC

IN: Bensah AFIABO (White Eagles), Jean-Baptiste BLAISE (France), Caleb BROWN (Marist FC), Jarryd CLIFTON (UC Pumas), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Gungahlin United), Daniel DI-SALVATORE (Narrabundah FC), Ben GRIEG (Weston-Molonglo FC), Tom HIRST (sabbatical), Christian JUNNA (Canberra Olympic), Mitchell KORDA (sabbatical), Richy Hurtado LORA (Vilamarxant, Valencia), Chris MCEWAN (sabbatical), Brady NIXON (sabbatical), Bradley OLIVERA (Tuggeranong United), Reece VLAZLOVSKI (ANU FC), Josh WADE (Weston-Molonglo FC), Matthew WATERS (Richmond FC)

OUT: Tim ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Ohio ASIKHIA (Tuggeranong United), Frano BLAZEVIC (Gungahlin United), Adrian CANIZARES (Tigers FC), Aaron CASHMAN (Tuggeranong United), David DEXTER (Gungahlin United), Adam DOBELL (overseas), John GIBSON (Weston-Molonglo FC), Zach HARRIGAN, David JENKINS (Gungahlin United), Amanze KESSIE (Monaro Panthers), Andrew KILEY, Rory LARKIN (Canberra FC), Sam MCDONALD, James PERRY, Nikolas POPOVICH (Richmond City), Alhaji SESAY (Tuggeranong United), Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Pepe VARGA (White Eagles)

Summary: Martin Lategui takes over from Miro Trninic in the head coaching role. A huge amount of changes to the squad. Will take time to gel, but will improve as the season goes on.

Tip: Eighth