The state soccer tournament begins this week, with the girls' starting Monday and the boys' on Tuesday, and South Jersey Group 4 remains among the more fascinating brackets on both fronts for different reasons.

The boys' Group 4 field is wide open with defending state champion Rancocas Valley moving to Central Jersey this season.

In the case of the girls' Group 4, the story line involves Lenape trying to continue its remarkable run after winning the previous two state championships.

Picking a boys' winner is almost as difficult as unseating the Lenape girls. In the boys' group, Clearview is the top seed, but the Pioneers have already lost to their opening opponent Cherokee. Meanwhile Cherokee has split with Cherry Hill East, which has split with Eastern and beaten Lenape twice. Lenape has beaten Cherry Hill West, which has beaten Williamstown, and on and on.

You get the picture.

Plus, we haven't even mentioned defending SJ Group 4 finalist Toms River East, a No. 10 seed, but a team that most would like to avoid.

As for Lenape girls, the Indians are clearly the favorite, but could face a second-round game with Washington Township, a team it beat twice in the regular season and met Saturday in the Coaches Tournament final. That wouldn't be the easiest of second-round games.

By the way, watch out for No. 6 seed Eastern, which is on the opposite bracket of Lenape and like the Indians, has played the type of rugged schedule that prepares a team for the rigors of Group 4.

Rancocas Valley's boys' are the No. 2 seed in CJ Group 4, while Toms River North is seeded first and it would surprise no one if they met in the final.

As a No. 10 seed, the Rancocas Valley girls' could make an interesting darkhorse in CJ Group 4.

The other boys' races should be fascinating, maybe none more than Central Jersey Group 2, where the Burlco Liberty could have a profound impact, with No. 2 seed Delran, No. 10 Cinnaminson and No. 14 Bordentown. All three could make waves. Cinnaminson has beaten and tied Delran, and not even Rancocas Valley can make that claim.

The boys' and girls' SJ Group 2 race should be a truly Colonial Conference affair. Colonial Liberty champ West Deptford is the No. 2 boys' seed and extremely dangerous, while No. 4 Haddon Township, No. 5 Haddon Heights, and No. 6 Haddonfield can't be dismissed. Top seeded Woodstown obviously bears watching.

In the girls' section, defending SJ champion Haddonfield is the second seed and the favorite, although No. 1 Haddon Township, No. 3 West Deptford and No. 4 Haddon Heights can't be dismissed. Haddonfield has beaten West Deptford twice, beaten and tied Heights and scored a 2-1 win over Haddon Township.

The Bulldogs are now healthy and prepared for their annual postseason run.

None of the SJ Group 2 teams should mind the fact that Cinnaminson is in Central Jersey Group 2 where the Pirates are seeded second and a serious contender.

SJ Group 3 appears up for grabs in boys' and girls. Watch out for Moorestown in both. The boys' team is the defending sectional champion and seeded only 11th, a byproduct of one of the toughest schedules in South Jersey.

The girls' team at Moorestown is the No. 4 seed and has a finisher in Kathleen Wolff who can make the difference in the postseason.

Central Regional is the top seeded boys' team in SJ Group 3, while Pt. Pleasant Boro is No. 1 in girls.

Group 1 could definitely have a Trico feel in both boys' and girls. Trico Classic champ Pitman is the top boys seed and the favorite. Defending sectional champ and No. 5-seed Salem, which has lost two one-goal decisions to Pitman, bears watching. No. 2 New Egypt and No. 3 Palmyra should contend.

In the girls' Pennsville is the top seed and Clayton is No. 2 and it's possible that these Trico teams could meet in the sectional final.

The theme in the Non-Public races is whether two of South Jersey's premier teams can withstand the treacherous competition in A, the larger enrollment group.

St. Augustine is the No. 1 boys' seed and remains undefeated heading into Sunday's 2 p.m. Coaches Tournament final with Rancocas Valley at Eastern. No. 2 CBA will contend, and a sleeper could be Bishop Eustace at No. 5.

On the girls' side, Paul VI is the top seed, but No. 2 Red Bank Catholic will give anybody in Non-Public A all it can handle. No. 7 Bishop Eustace, which lost an earlier 2-1 decision to Paul VI, has a difficult first-round game with Red Bank Catholic, but will be no pushover.

In girls' Non-Public B, top-seeded Gloucester Catholic is the favorite, although No. 2 Holy Cross has been coming on strong.

And speaking of Holy Cross, the Lancers' boys' team could be an interesting darkhorse in Non-Public B, where Sacred Heart is the defending state champion, the No. 2 seed and a club ready to make another serious run at top-seeded St. Rose of Belmar.

There is so much parity in this one-and-done tournament, where goals are difficult to come by, but drama and unpredictable occurrences should be plentiful.

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.