Argentine clubs have one goal: unseat the champions

	Several key players have left, but Boca Juniors' 6-1 mauling of Mexico's Tigres proved they're still the team to beat. AP
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The Argentine '06 Apertura championship is set to kick off, and clubs have one goal in mind: bringing an end to Boca Juniors' dominance.

Boca is still probably the favorite, but the 22-time champs will face a particularly daunting challenge this time around, because most of its rivals have broken the bank in attempts to strengthen their squads.

The transfer market was especially busy during the offseason, and an influx of foreigners may provide Argentina with some of its finest domestic soccer in a long time. Boca won't have it their way so easily.

Archrival River Plate, as well as Independiente, Racing and San Lorenzo are desperate to win the league title, and have made enough changes that they believe -- deservedly so -- that they have a good shot at it. Smaller clubs, such as last season's revelation, Lanús, will be looking to challenge the big fish once again in what promises to be a season to remember.

Here's a breakdown of each of my top 10 title contenders (in alphabetical order):

Boca Juniors

Boca will be looking to win its third successive league title, but unlike in previous competitions, there is a question mark as to whether it will be able to continue its success.

Alfio Basile will remain at the club only until mid-September, when he officially takes over the position as manager of the Argentine national team.

Meanwhile, Boca has off-loaded three key men: goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri and midfielders Federico Insúa and Daniel Bilos. Insúa, arguably the '06 Clausura season's best player, will surely be missed. Boca has also been slow in securing reinforcements. The club has made only two signings to date: Paraguayan goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla from Libertad and midfielder Jesus Datolo from Banfield.

The good news is that prolific striker Rodrigo Palacio will stay put for at least another season.

But don't be fooled -- even though they will be weaker than last season, the Xeneizes have the quality to fight for the championship. Last weekend they closed their Mexican tour with an emphatic 6-1 demolition of Tigres.

Estudiantes de La Plata

Estudiantes put all their efforts into their Copa Libertadores last season, when they missed out on a semifinal birth only after a penalty-shootout defeat at the hands of South American champion São Paulo.

New manager Diego Simeone is hoping to bring the club the league title for the first time in 23 years, and he has enough material to work with to put up a strong challenge. The majority of last season's squad remains, with the addition of some important players. The biggest signing was that of Juan Sebastián Verón, who returned to the club that saw him turn professional back in 1994.

The side's strong attack will be boosted by the signing of Ezequiel Maggiolo, a deadly finisher who found the back of the net seven times last season when playing for Olimpo of Bahía Blanca.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

El Lobo has never won a league championship but has come increasingly close to making history in the last couple of seasons. Pedro Troglio's side plays some of the most attractive soccer in the country, and has inherited a quality for knocking off the traditional heavyweights.

Much of the credit can go to outstanding Uruguayan striker Gonzalo Vargas, who finished as the league's top scorer last season with 12 goals. This season he will play alongside fellow countryman Santiago Silva in what promises to be one of the deadliest attacking partnerships in Argentina.

Another important signing is the well-traveled Andrés Guglielminpietro, who should add a wealth of experience to a side that is ready to take the next step.