New-look Cignal braces for a tough challenge as it tries to defend its crown against shored-up competition when the Spikers' Turf Open Conference action unwraps on 13 March at the Paco Arena.

Plucked of the key players that helped the club sweep last year's edition of the season-opening conference, the HD Spikers are in for a rough ride in the nine-team fiel, including three newcomers.

"Everyone knows we're fielding a different lineup, new sets of players," Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor said on Friday during the league's 2024 season press launch at the Discovery Suites in Pasig City.

The HD Spikers, who went undefeated in 15 games of the same tournament last year, saw the departure of ace player Marck Espejo along with other starters Ysay Marasigan, Chumason Njigha, libero Manuel Sumanguid and setter Geuel Asia following a runner-up finish in the Invitational Conference.

But Cignal was able to land the services of seasoned internationalist Bryan Bagunas, who is set to hook up with the squad after his stint with Win Streak in the Taiwan Top Volleyball League ends by next month.

Bagunas will join holdovers Jau Umandal, JP Bugaoan, EJ Casana, Peter Torres, Wendel Miguel and Lloyd Josafat.

"But what's good about this team is that we're able to become champions in our previous tournament," Clamor said of Cignal's title sweep of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League.

"Our morale is high, from the coaches to the players. But what we're more excited about is this coming Spiker's Turf. We prepared well for this every training so that we can be at our 100 percent come game time."

While Cignal remains the top title favorite, a stacked new team in the Criss Cross King Crunchers loom to give other established clubs a run for their money.

Espejo, who is still plying his act with the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in the Korean V-League, banners Rebisco's initial venture in the men's division along with other ex-Cignal players.

They are joined by Rex Intal, Ish Polvorosa, Vince Mangulabnan, Jude Garcia, Jaron Requinton, Gian Glorioso and Kim Malabunga, making the King Crunchers a team to watch out for.