Central Pulse have been handed the honour of playing the opening match of next year's inaugural Transtasman netball competition.
ANZ championship general manager Tony Holding today announced the draw for the 2008 season, with the first game pitting the Pulse against the Melbourne Vixens in Wellington on April5.
The first game in Australia is the next day when the Queensland Firebirds host West Coast Fever.
Southern Steel, an amalgamation of New Zealand domestic champions the Southern Sting and the Otago Rebels, open their campaign against the New South Wales Swifts on April 7.
Five games will be played each week, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, over 14 rounds - with a three-week finals series for the top four teams in July.
The top two teams will play off in the major semifinal in the first weekend with the winners going direct to the grand final.
The losers of that weekend's minor semifinal between the third and fourth-placed teams drop out while the winners meet the major semifinal losers a week later in the preliminary final for a spot in the grand final.
The grand final is scheduled for July 28, and will hosted by the major semifinal winners.
New Zealand's Northern Mystics, Bay of Plenty Magic and Southern Steel will contest seven home games, and the Central Pulse and Canterbury Flames play six.
The Queensland Firebirds joined the Swifts in securing seven home games in the first season, while the Melbourne Vixens, Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever will play six.
Teams who have six home games in 2008 will contest seven in 2009.
Holding said he was pleased with the draw.
"We've taken into account everything from venue availability to scheduling times," Holding said.
"And we believe that we've got a balanced draw that will enable fans to follow their teams closely."
The NSW Swifts are the only side who have named the bulk of their intended player lineup, with the Melbourne Vixens to follow tomorrow.
But no team will be able to formally name their team until players sign a participation agreement, which is expected to be signed in the next few weeks after a delay from New Zealand forming a players' association.
