Clubs are divided on what format Dunedin premier rugby should take next season but there will be change.
The Metropolitan Rugby Council (MRC) is reviewing the structure of the competition and, at a meeting on Monday night, the clubs ruled out sticking with the status quo.
However, the 10 clubs are split 5-5 on the two remaining proposals.
Option one would involve a full round of nine games played before the teams split into odds and evens for a second round of five games.
The teams ranked 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 would play the teams ranked 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
With semifinals and a final, the maximum number of games a team could play would be 16 games, although that could rise to 17 games if the clubs elected to play quarterfinals.
That option would see the competition wrapped up on July 16 or July 23 which means the Otago contracted players would be available for the playoffs.
The MRC has received a clear direction from Otago management that contracted players will be unavailable from July 24.
That date is effectively a deadline for the clubs, which have expressed a strong desire to have the best players available for the playoffs.
The clubs have also indicated they want to avoid double-headers and have agreed on a start date of April 2, although if option two is selected then senior rugby may start a week earlier than all the other grades.
The second option involves two rounds of eight games and a semifinal and final with a finishing date of July 23 or July 30.
Each team would miss out on playing one team per round.
The opponent it misses out on in the second round would be different from the first round.
A July 30 finish would mean Otago contracted players would not be available for the final, hence an early start seems likely if this option is elected.
Otago Rugby Union operations administrator Simon Wallace said the clubs would meet again on November 16 but he hoped a decision could be reached prior to that date.
If the 5-5 deadlock is not broken, then MRC chairman Nigel Hodge will cast the deciding vote.
