The new season of Thai League 1 with a difference kicks off today with Port taking on newcomers Nakhon Pathom United in an away game.
What is different this season is that the organisers of the tournament have so far failed to find an official broadcaster for the event and are relying on AIS Play, True Visions Now and 3BB Giga TV to beam the matches live to the public through paid packages.
However, the frontrunners for the 2023-2024 top honours remain unchanged.
Here is a look at the contenders and pretenders for the top-flight crown this season.
Buriram's encore?
Defending champions Buriram United, as always, will enter the season as the hot favourites.
The Thunder Castle, who swept all three domestic titles last season, were busy in the off-season and have added players like Leon James, Kim Min-Hyeok, Ramil Sheydayev, Nicolao Dumitru and Suporn Peenagatapho to their star-studded line-up.
Apart from defending their Thai League 1, FA Cup and League Cup crowns, the northeastern giants will also have to take part in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
They will be without two key players -- Supachok Sarachart, who is currently playing for the J-League club Consadole Sapporo, and his half-brother Suphanat Mueanta, who will play for Belgian side OH Leuven on a one-year loan deal.
Buriram lost 2-0 to Bangkok United in the Thailand Champions Cup at Rajamangala Stadium on Saturday, leaving their coach Masatada Ishii worried about a number of weaknesses in the team.
However, Ishii confirmed that winning all "the three domestic titles is our target again. Our fans expect us to repeat the feat so we will have to work very hard."
The Year of Rabbits?
Although BG Pathum United finished a lowly ninth last season, they made the biggest splash in the off-season by signing Thailand playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin from J-League's Kawasaki Frontale for a princely sum of 70 million baht.
And it isn't just Chanathip who has become a part of the Rabbits's squad -- they still have the two Fandi brothers Irfan and Ikhsan from Singapore, veteran Thailand striker Teerasil Dangda and Sarach Yooyen in the team.
Under new coach Thongchai Sukkoki, who was appointed shortly before the end of the last season, former champions Pathum United will be hoping for a comeback.
The Rabbits will also take part in the AFC Champions League play-off stage, facing Shanghai Port away on Aug 22.
They can give Buriram United a tough time this season.
All quiet on Port front
Although Port weren't so busy in the off-season, they can't be written off.
They sealed permanent transfers for key players like Worachit Kanitsribumphen and Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom from Pathum United and they still have the core of their team intact.
The only two new players they have signed for the new season were Charlie Clough from Nakhon Ratchasima and Barros Tardeli from Nongbua Pitchaya.
Port used a tandem of coaches -- Choketawee Promrut and Surapong Kongthep -- who took the team to a third-place finish last season. However, the Klong Toey-based team are unlikely to fare any better than the last season.
They will also participate in the ACL play-off, taking on Zhejiang from the Chinese Super League on Aug 22.
Angels' quest
Bangkok United won their first trophy in the club's 14-year history on Saturday when they lifted the Thailand Champions Cup after beating Buriram United 2-0. The Angels, who finished second in the last season, have acquired some new players like Frenchman Amadou Soukouna and Bassel Jradi of Lebanon.
Mahmoud Eid, Willen Mota, Everton Goncalves, Thitiphan Puanchan and Pokklaw A-Nan are still with the club.
Traditionally, Bangkok United have always been slow off the blocks and all their campaigns in the past have been marred by inconsistent form.
The pretenders
Chonburi, former champions Muang Thong United and Chiang Rai are likely to fight for the places left behind by the top four contenders.
Chonburi, also known as the Sharks, have hired former Pathum United coach Makoto Teguramori as their new tactician.
Makoto has brought in players like Yannick M'Bone, Lee Chan-dong, Benjamin Davis and Patrick Deyto.
Muang Thong finished fourth last season but they may find it difficult to match that feat in this campaign.
The Kirins have signed Cameroonian defender Jean-Claude Billong and will once again be coached by Mario Gjurovski.
Another former champions Chiang Rai United have players like Sivakorn Tiatrakul and Saranon Anuin who can help the Beetles perform well again in the new season.
The makeweights
Teams like Police Tero, Ratchaburi, Sukhothai, PT Prachuap, Khon Kaen United and Lamphun Warriors are likely to survive in the top flight at the end of the season.
The top contenders for relegations will be the three recently promoted teams -- Nakhon Pathom United, Trat and Uthai Thani.
