Steelform Wanganui's travel schedule for the 2015 Pink Batts Heartland draw does not have the same ominous ring about it as last year with only one trip to the South Island and most of last year's strongest teams coming to Cooks Gardens.
After winning the Lochore Cup to finish fifth
in Heartland, compared to seventh in 2013, Wanganui have received a stronger seeding for the draw that was finalised last weekend.
After missing two North Island teams last year in Thames Valley and Poverty Bay, along with 2014 Meads Cup finalists Buller, those games are factored into a programme where Wanganui meet strong opposition first up but have manageable circumstances to meet them.
The season opener will be an hour down the road in Levin as Wanganui try to regain the Bruce Steel Cup from Meads semifinalists Horowhenua-Kapiti, who beat them 34-23 at Cooks Gardens last year.
First home game the following week is the big one against 2013-14 Meads Cup champions Mid Canterbury, before Wanganui make their sole South Island trip to face another perennial contender in North Otago at Oamaru - the site of last year's 14-12 Lochore Cup final victory.
