That does not necessarily mean it is any less likely to change hands.
But it will be the Dunedin City Royals, rather than nine-time defending champion Dunedin Technical, who enter as favourites this year.
That comes as a result of a full club merger between Technical, Caversham, Melchester Rovers and Hereweka — which began with the premier and development men’s teams last year.
The Royals will enter a six-team women’s league and face Green Island at Logan Park Turf to open their season tomorrow.
Queenstown Rovers host Mosgiel and Northern plays Roslyn-Wakari in the other two games in the opening round.
On the men’s side, the 10-team ODT Southern Premiership provides the pathway to the Southern League.
Victory in the local league will give a team the right to a promotion-relegation tie against the bottom-placed team from the federation in the South Island-wide league.
Queens Park and Northern Hearts, from Invercargill and Timaru respectively, have joined the league.
The second teams from the three Southern League clubs — the Royals, Green Island and Mosgiel — will also play in the local competition.
Of the others, Otago University will have plenty of motivation, having been denied a spot in the Southern League due to being unable to meet a licensing requirement.
However, the students have lost a large contingent of last year’s successful team.
Roslyn-Wakari will likely be among the contenders, while Northern was a surprise package in finishing second a year ago.
Queenstown and Wanaka will both provide tough opposition, particularly playing at home.
