The A-League's newest club, Auckland FC, will make their first foray into New Zealand domestic football later this month.
Auckland FC's Reserves join the Northern League this season - with their first match away at fellow new club Fencibles United on Saturday, March 22 - during the regional phase of New Zealand Football's National League.
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Like the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the Central League, Auckland FC automatically qualify for the now 11-team National League Championship phase during spring.
The Auckland FC Reserves' first home match comes against Tauranga City FC at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland's west on Saturday, March 29, with their fixtures list featuring three home matches in the first five rounds.
Their first match against three-time defending Northern League and current National League champions Auckland City FC comes on Saturday, May 10 at Kiwitea Street, before they host the return match on Saturday, August 9.
While how Auckland FC Reserves fare will provide some intrigue, the country's pre-eminent club, ACFC, will play in three of the first four Northern League matches to alleviate their schedule congestion.
The champions will host Tauranga City on Saturday, March 15 and West Coast Rangers on Tuesday, March 18, before travelling to Manurewa AFC on Saturday, March 22 in the first round proper.
After those three matches, they will head to the Solomon Islands for the OFC Champions League, with their next league match coming on Saturday, April 17.
Similarly, they will play seven matches in May before dedicating the entirety of June to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Three-time Central League champions Wellington Olympic will get their campaign underway at their Wakefield Park home against cross-town rivals Miramar Rangers on Saturday, March 29.
The Phoenix Reserves host league newcomers Upper Hutt City the same day at Lower Hutt's Fraser Park.
Promoted Wanaka AFC get the Southern League season started, welcoming Universities of Canterbury on Saturday, March 29, while last year's winners Cashmere Technical open at home against Selwyn United the same day.
Four teams from the Northern League, three from the Central League and two from the Southern League - plus the AFC Reserves and Phoenix Reserves - will qualify for the National League Championship.