Tuggeranong ViQueens captain Peta Cox is confident her side can win back to back titles despite losing two of their star players to season-ending injuries before round one.
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Defending champions Tuggeranong broke a three-year grand final curse to win the premiership last year and they were led to glory by star back-rower Tayla Stanford.
But Stanford has already been ruled out for the entire season after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in the Brumbies' Super W campaign, and she'll be joined on the sideline by representative teammate Emily Sogal.
Stanford was expected to force her way into the Wallaroos squad after an outstanding Super W season, but she will have to wait for her chance to play Test rugby.
She will also leave a huge hole in the Tuggeranong side, which will face new challenges this season after Easts and Wests relaunched their women's programs.
"We all know Tay, she's very strong. The women's World Cup is in 2021 and that's achievable for her. We'll all step up to help her to get through it," Cox said.
Easts will play in the women's competition for the first time in 15 years, while Wests are back in the top female competition for the first time since 2006.
ACT rugby has also introduced the inaugural Louise Ferris Medal, which will be awarded to the competition's best and fairest player at the end of the season.
