THOUGH the weather is suggesting otherwise, the cricket season is upon us again.

Somerset staged their press day yesterday (click here for reaction) and there was an undoubted air of optimism at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

As some of the players rightly pointed out, however, that positivity will be present within every county changing room at this time of year and in Division One that is justifiable, with all eight teams having the right to claim this could be their year.

Cast your votes below on how you think the season will go - and then check out our Gazette predictions...

County Gazette predictions 2018:

County Championship Division 1 

1st - Lancashire

THE Red Rose county finished runners-up to runaway champions Essex last season but have strengthened shrewdly over the winter, adding opener Keaton Jennings and canny seamer Graham Onions from Durham.

In Haseeb Hameed, Liam Livingstone and Alex Davies they boast three of the most exciting young English batsmen on the circuit and therefore won't be short of runs, though the first two could yet be subject to international call-ups.

Somerset County Gazette:

CAPTAIN: Lancashire's Liam Livingstone (Pic: PA)

The availability of James Anderson has not yet been finalised, but Onions is capable of leading a good bowling attack and spinner Matt Parkinson will be looking to build on his promise.

2nd - Hampshire

PERHAPS the strongest batting line-up in the division lies on the south coast, particularly with the addition of Hashim Amla for the first three months of the season.

Somerset County Gazette:

STAR SIGNING: Hashim Amla (Pic: PA)

The South African star joins James Vince, Jimmy Adams, Rilee Roussouw and Sam Northeast, who had his pick of the top division after leaving Kent in search of international honours.

Kyle Abbott will again lead the way with the ball, and will be joined by Dale Steyn for a short period in June, but whether their attack has the strength in depth to regularly take 20 wickets is open to question and could stop them claiming the ultimate prize.

Mason Crane starts the season injured, but will probably take Jack Leach's place in the England team after taking 2-95 on his return against Surrey in June.

3rd - Essex

LAST season's champions look strong again, but will they be able to cope with the added pressure and expectation?

They will again benefit from the early-season availability of Alastair Cook as he looks for much-needed runs, while Dan Lawrence will be hoping for the scores required to join his county teammate in the England side before too long.

Their overseas signings are good, with Peter Siddle and Neil Wagner dropping in, but much may depend on Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer repeating their superb summers last time out.

Somerset County Gazette:

MOMENTUM: Essex celebrate last season's title win (Pic: PA)

4th - Somerset

THE return of Andy Hurry seems to have galvanised the squad, who summoned their fighting spirit to stay up in dramatic fashion at the end of last season.

Eddie Byrom looks well set to build on a solid start to his First Class career, while Matt Renshaw is a good addition at the top of the order and an engine room of James Hildreth, Tom Abell and Steve Davies is as strong a 4-5-6 as anyone's - surely the batting line-up cannot all be out of form at the same time again?

Somerset County Gazette:

PROSPECT: Eddie Byrom (Pic: SCCC)

Bowling-wise Somerset are strong, particularly with everyone available, and the suggestion that the pitches may not turn as much this year will be music to the ears of the talented seam attack, who were sidelined towards the end of last season.

Craig Overton and Jack Leach will be looking for early season wickets to keep hold of their England places, and Somerset have enough depth in their ranks should they do so. A Leach call-up would open the door for Dom Bess - make the most of watching him in Taunton while you can, as surely higher honours await.

A good start is crucial, particularly with two winnable home games first up - Somerset cannot afford to be playing catch-up again.

5th - Surrey

ONLY three batsmen topped 1,000 runs in Division One last year, and all three played for Surrey - can they force enough results at the batsman-friendly Oval to challenge?

The addition of Morne Morkel will certainly help them do so, but the absence of Mitchell Marsh through injury is a blow.

Somerset County Gazette:

MARQUEE SIGNING: Morne Morkel (Pic: PA)

Batting points won't be a problem, with Mark Stoneman returning to the ranks in need of a few big early scores, former Somerset man Dean Elgar slotting in through April and May and Virat Kohli potentially arriving in mid-summer, but too many draws could hold them back.

6th - Nottinghamshire

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE arrive back at the top table following a year hiatus full of confidence, with a Division Two title and both limited-overs competitions in the bag from last season.

Their squad again looks more suited to the shorter formats, however, while their top order looks vulnerable and if there are early collapses they no longer have the ultra-reliable Chris Read to bail them out.

Captain Steven Mullaney is one of the most underrated performers out there, but his side will find four-day victories tougher to come by back in the top division.

Somerset County Gazette:

UNDERRATED: Steven Mullaney

7th - Yorkshire

WHILE Lancashire look well prepared, across the Pennines there has been a rather more turbulent pre-season with David Willey and Liam Plunkett whisked off at short notice to play in the IPL.

Somerset County Gazette:

ABSENT: Liam Plunkett (PA)

That leaves Yorkshire's seaming ranks looking a little light for a time in the season when such skills are crucial, with a lot now riding on whether Ben Coad can back up the 50 wickets he took last summer, and they are now also without their best spinner for the duration after Adil Rashid's decision to sign a white-ball only contract.

There is quality in the batting ranks which could well leave this prediction looking foolish - Chetashwar Pujara and Kane Williamson are excellent overseas signings, and opening pair Adam Lyth and Alex Lees have points to prove after disappointing seasons last time out.

8th - Worcestershire

IT is perhaps too predictable to place last year's second promoted side and perennial yo-yo side in bottom spot, and there is reason to believe Worcestershire will do rather better than anticipated.

Joe Clarke - dubbed the 'new Joe Root' - is one to watch, as is paceman Josh Tongue, and the New Road outfit will take great confidence from the way Essex negotiated the step up last season.

Somerset County Gazette:

ONE TO WATCH: Joe Clarke

It's a very strong division, though, and Worcestershire - unfortunately for a club with one of the best grounds in which to watch cricket in the country - look the weakest side on paper.

Royal London One-Day Cup - Nottinghamshire

Vitality Blast - Sussex

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.