The start of the 2018 Shute Shield season is just a few sleeps away and a number of sides will unveil new look line ups when round one kicks off on Saturday.

After a busy summer on the player movement front, here are our top 10 recruits for the 2018 season, in no particular order.

Pat Sio – Eastwood 

Eastwood coach John Manenti labelled a then 20-year old Pat Sio the next Wycliff Palu when he signed with Stade Francais back in 2015, but both men have found their way back to TG Millner ahead of the 2018 season. After stints in France and New Zealand, a bigger and physically mature Sio will cause plenty of headaches for opposition defences this year.

Mark Gerrard – Warringah

If Warringah fans didn’t have enough reason to be confident heading into the 2018 season, the Rats have dragged former Wallaby Mark Gerrard back from Japan to add more strike power to an already electrifying backline. From all reports, Gerrard is fit but the 35-year old may play just as important a role off the field as he does on it at Rat Park.

Shambeckler Vui – Southern Districts

If there’s one thing Southern Districts don’t lack, it’s size. Yet the Rebels have added former Australian U20s giant and Waratahs recruit Shambeckler Vui to their list after a stint with the Western Force. Souths’ scrum was dominant towards the backend of last season and Vui’s size can only be a positive.

Sam Malcolm – West Harbour

It’s pretty tough to replace the 2018 Ken Catchpole Medal winner and the competition’s leading pointscorer but Pirates’ coach Todd Louden appears to have struck gold again across the ditch, recruiting young Manawatu flyhalf Sam Malcolm to replace Tayler Adams. Small in stature, Malcolm is quick and skilful and will play a crucial role in West Harbour’s 2018 campaign.

Mick Snowden – Eastwood

Snowden spent a few years in Melbourne with the Rebels and made his Waratahs debut earlier this year but will return to TG Millner in 2018 to link with Jai Ayoub in the Eastwood halves and reform a partnership that delivered Woodies fans back to back premierships in 2014 and 2015.

Brad Hemopo – Manly 

Manly recruit Brad Hemopo spent time playing between Richie McCaw and Dan Carter during his younger years the Canterbury academy. The 193cm, 118kg No.8 is big, strong and abrasive and looks perfectly suited to slot into an angry Marlins forward pack.

Christian Kagiassis – Southern Districts

Former Sydney Uni back Christian Kagiassis has made the move south and will be a nice addition to the Rebels fast and dynamic backline. The goal kicking outside back can also play No.10 and will give Matt Barr plenty of options this season.

JP Sauni – Northern Suburbs

NSW Waratahs recuit JP Sauni hasn’t featured in Super Rugby yet this year but will get a chance to show Daryl Gibson and co what he can offer when he starts at hooker for Norths in this weekend’s grand final rematch. We don’t know a whole lot about Sauni, but there aren’t many Junior All Blacks that can’t play.

Lachlan Miller – Randwick

Described by former Randwick mentor Geoff Mould as the most talented footballer he’s seen since Wallaby Russell Fairfax, Coffs Harbour’s rugby league convert Lachlan Miller will find his way to Randwick after an initial stint with the Australian Sevens squad.

Ru Mackenzie – Warringah

A few years back, Ru Mackenzie was on track to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Scottish international, but illness changed those plans and the backrower now finds himself in Australia wearing the Warringah No.8 jersey. Now back to full fitness, Mackenzie has trained the house down over summer and has forced Darren Coleman to move Sam Ward to lock to fit both men in his starting pack.