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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/1999510.htm
Former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui says the Perth Spirit and the Canberra Vikings should be considered as the favourites to win the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship (ARC).
The eight-team competition kicks off this week with Turinui appearing at outside centre for the Sydney Fleet in their opening encounter against the Central Coast Rays at North Sydney Oval on Friday night.
The Fleet and the Rays are two of the New South Wales clubs competing in the ARC, with the Western Sydney Rams also included.
Turinui, who will play for Queensland in next season's Super 14, said he was confident the Fleet could qualify for the semi-finals.
However, he said the fact New South Wales' player roster was stretched to cater for three clubs meant the Spirit and Vikings were most likely to challenge for the ARC title.
"I think we're a semi-final team," he said.
"I think the hard teams to beat will be Canberra and Perth because they have the advantage of not splitting their resources, as the three New South Wales teams have to do.
"They've been together a bit longer because they're autonomous on their own province and they have a lot more Super 14 players."
The Spirit open their account against the Rams in Perth on Friday night while the Vikings face the Melbourne Rebels at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
The two Queensland-based clubs, the Ballymore Tornadoes and the East Coast Aces, face off at Carrara Stadium on Saturday.
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