Champions Sirens will start their title defence against Ta' Xbiex as the draws of the 2006 Wilkinson Sword National League were held yesterday at the Radisson SAS Baypoint.
Nine teams will take part in the championship which starts on June 9, the opening day of the World Cup in Germany. Valletta will not take part this year.
The championship will retain the same format, again played on two phases. The league kicks off with the Preliminary Round when all sides face each other once. Then, in the second phase, which starts on July 21, teams will be split into two groups.
The top four contest the Division One league with the other teams playing in Division Two.
As in previous years, the last round of Preliminary Round matches, on July 15, will have double significance. Apart from the points, Neptunes and Sirens will contest the President's Cup while Sliema and Marsascala face each other for the Sportswriters' Cup.
After the hard-fought 2005 championship race, this year's competition is set to be even tighter with the re-introduction of a foreign player for each side.
The biggest representation comes from Hungary with the signings of Tibor Benedek (Sliema), Tamas Marcz (Sirens) and Marton Toth (Otters). Neptunes have Croatian Dubravko Simenc while San Giljan engaged Marco Cuk, of Serbia.
Exiles will field two Dutch players this summer. Gerben Silvis will play in the first phase before leaving his place to compatriot Marco Booij. The other foreigners are Belgian Tom Van Oost (Ta' Xbiex), Belarussian Sergei Frolov (Marsaxlokk) and Sacho Popovfki (Marsascala), of Macedonia.
ASA president Robbie Ebejer yesterday thanked sponsors Wilkinson Sword for their continued support and revealed the association's plans for the national teams.
"We have now revived the youth national teams. They are currently preparing for the Comen Junior Championships in Sicily in July," he said.
"In September, the senior team will also figure in the Comen Cup ahead of the 2007 European 'B' Championship in Manchester. Besides, next year we will be hosting the European Junior Championships and there are plans to stage a friendly tournament in May 2007."
Sirens player Jonathan Valletta was yesterday presented with the 2005 Player of the Year award.
In a short comment, he said that the introduction of the foreign player and the new rules are set to increase the interest in this year's championship.
"It will be difficult to be champions again as the top teams look to be evenly balanced," he said.
"But, Sirens are confident of another successful year."
Opening day (times still undecided):
Friday, June 9 - Marsascala vs Marsaxlokk; Sliema vs San Giljan.
Saturday, June 10 - Neptunes vs Exiles; Sirens vs Ta' Xbiex.