Champions Exeter beaten by late Gloucester try at Kingsholm
FT: Gloucester 28-21 Exeter
Newcastle also claim bonus-point win at home against Worcester
FT: Newcastle Falcons 35-8 Worcester Warriors
Your surprise packages for this season via #bbcrugby
Ruari Crichard: As a Gloucester fan, I'm clearly biased. But don't rule us out of a top 6 finish, IF Ackermann's philosophy rubs off quickly
Send us your predictions and insight using #bbcrugby - even if they are biased!
Gloucester v Exeter (19:45 BST)
Image source, BBC SportReplacements: Taione, Rimmer, Francis, Skinner, Salvi, Maunder, Nowell, Turner.
Exeter begin the defence of their Premiership title by handing a debuts to Australia scrum-half Nic White and former Gloucester flanker Matt Kvesic.
England international Kvesic had initially been named on the bench, but starts after Dave Dennis failed a late fitness test.
Image source, Getty ImagesMay's epic final saw Exeter Chiefs beat Wasps in extra-time and director of rugby Rob Baxter says it will be interesting to see how his players cope as champions.
"Some guys, I have no doubt, will love being champions and will deal with it really well, other guys may struggle, some guys will evolve with it - it's us managing that balance that will be the most interesting thing this season," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.
"We're certainly not afraid about talking about staying as the champions and trying to do the double, but I think what we learnt last season is there's a way you do it, and actually that's the day-by-day grind, taking it into your own hands and making it about you."
With the new Premiership season getting under way on Friday, BBC Sport takes a closer look at how 2017-18 might unfold.
Read MoreGloucester v Exeter (19:45 BST)
Image source, .Replacements: Matu'u, Hohneck, Denman, Slater, Ackermann, Vellacott, Twelvetrees, Scott.
Gloucester hand debuts in their starting XV to full-back Jason Woodward and prop Fraser Balmain.
Flanker Ruan Ackermann - son of new Cherry and Whites head coach Johan Ackermann - is on the bench.
Tweet via #bbcrugby
Image source, Getty ImagesIt would be easy for me to sit here and ask who you think will win the Premiership this season, or who might get relegated - but let's go for a slightly different angle.
Most of us expect Saracens, Wasps and Exeter to be fighting it out towards the top and, perhaps, London Irish and Worcester to be among those scrapping to avoid the drop...
But who are we predicting as this year's surprise package? And who could struggle somewhat more than many might think?
Send us your thoughts using #bbcrugby and we'll feature some of them here.
Newcastle v Worcester (19:45 BST)
Hot off the press, Warriors have made a late change to their starting XV.
Ben Te'o, who had a busy summer with the Lions, starts in place of Wynand Olivier, who pulled up in the warm-up.
Jamie Shillcock is promoted to the bench.
Newcastle v Worcester (19:45 BST)
Image source, .Replacements: Taufete'e, Waller, Alo, Phillips, Faosiliva, Stringer, Olver, Te'o.
Back-rower GJ van Velze is back for Worcester after a year-long absence with concussion problems.
British & Irish Lions star Ben Te'o is on the bench, having been granted a late return to training after his summer exertions.
Newcastle v Worcester (19:45 BST)
There is no such thing as a certainty in sport - although Worcester Warriors being involved in a relegation battle in recent years has come close.
Warriors have failed to finish higher than 10th in their past nine Premiership campaigns and have been relegated twice since 2010.
Image source, BBC SportNewcastle Falcons were seen by many to have overachieved in 2016-17, ending up eighth in the table. An 11th-placed finish or relegation has been the norm for the north-east side in recent years.
I know London Irish are favourites for the drop, but how big could this season-opener prove to be in the battle towards the bottom?
Newcastle v Worcester (19:45 BST)
Image source, .Replacements: Lawson, Mavinga, Davison, Cavubati, Latu, Stuart, Willis, Socino.
Newcastle are without key new signings Toby Flood, Maxime Mermoz and DTH van der Merwe for the season's opener, although Josh Matavesi will debut.
Full-back Simon Hammersley makes his first appearance since recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
Image source, Rex Features(Both 19:45 BST kick-offs)
Gloucester v Exeter
Newcastle v Worcester
Let's get stuck straight in to a bit of team news...
It's been a while....
Image source, Getty Images...98 days in fact since Exeter's extra time victory against Wasps saw them crowned Premiership champions.
Image source, Getty ImagesHave no fear - the Premiership is back and it's a Friday night double to kick-off the new season, including a rather tasty-looking West Country affair at Kingsholm.
That enough to whet your appetite?
Image source, PA