College A and Celtic will kickstart the premier netball season next week. Photo supplied.A clash of the titans will get netball’s premiership show on the road next week in a replay of last year’s final.

Mid Canterbury Netball revealed draws for the impending season last week, with senior netball returning on Saturday.

All eyes however will be on the start of the remodelled ACL Premier competition, which starts in eight days’ time.

Junior competitions, which are played on Saturdays, are still more than three weeks away.

The ACL competition’s opening night includes a premier 1 triple header at Ashburton’s EA Networks Centre, beginning with a showdown between Celtic A and College A.

College A clinched their first premier title in just under a decade when they beat Celtic 34-27 in last year’s ACL premier final.

Premier 1’s opening night action will be rounded out with match-ups between Hampstead A and United A before Mt Somers takes on Methven.

This year’s competition also introduces a premier 3 grade, which had included six teams prior to Covid-19.

Mid Canterbury Netball centre manager Erin Tasker confirmed one of the teams withdrew from the competition, forcing a bye week in the new grade.

The three premier grades will run over 11 weeks, comprising two full rounds followed by a week of straight finals.

Promotion/relegation games will be played between rounds.

Traditionally there had been three rounds played in the premier competition followed by semi-finals and the final.

Premier games will continue to be played on Thursdays, however Mid Canterbury Netball have changed game times to 6.15pm, 7.15pm and 8.15pm due to the additional grade being introduced.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 23 June 2020