2/16 Hawke's Bay currently hold the log of wood, and will put it on the line at every home game of the season.
3/16
3/16 Mid Canterbury, Wairarapa Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti will all get a pre-season shot at taking the shield.
4/16
4/16 Northland get the first realistic crack at the Shield, taking on Hawke's Bay in Week One.
5/16
5/16 North Harbour will get a shot at the holders in Week 4, provided they see off Northland.
6/16
6/16 Auckland will get a crack at Hawke's Bay in Week 7, and could take the Shield if it still lives in Napier.
7/16
7/16 Canterbury need North Harbour to beat Hawke's Bay, and then they can take it off them in Week 6.
8/16
8/16 Counties-Manukau also need North Harbour to win, so they can win the Shield in Week 5.
9/16
9/16 Bay of Plenty get a direct shot at the Shield in Week 6, taking on Hawke's Bay.
10/16
10/16 Waikato will be nervously watching Hawke's Bay's results, until they get the final challenge of the season in Week 9.
11/16
11/16 Otago may have a shot at the Shield, provided either North Harbour or Northland win it early in the season. They get a crack at each in Week 8 and 9 respectively.
12/16
12/16 Southland will be relying on Northland to beat Hawke's Bay in the first round. If they do, the very next week will feature a Shield clash between the two tips of New Zealand.
13/16
13/16 Taranaki need Northland to win if they are to get a chance, they face the Taniwha in Week 4 in what could be a Shield challenge.
14/16
14/16 The Bay of Plenty have a potential Shield challenge against local rivals and current holders Hawke's Bay in Week 6.
15/16
15/16 Tasman have a tough road to a challenge. They need to beat Counties in Week 7, provided Counties beat Hawke's Bay and hold onto it until then.
16/16
16/16 Spare a thought for Manawatu, who have to beat Southland, after Southland beat Northland, after Northland beat Hawke's Bay. Based on how often the Shield seems to bounce around the country, this may not be as unlikely as it seems.