Waikato will face five Ranfurly Shield challenges during the 2013 ITM Cup competition, starting with the season opener against Northland on August 17.
Waikato will also defend the shield in two pre-season challenges - against Horowhenua-Kapiti on July 17 at Morrinsville and against East Coast at Ruatoria on July 30.
If they survive, they will also put the shield on the line at home against Northland, Otago, Auckland, Wellington and Taranaki. Waikato's away games are Canterbury, Southland, Counties Manukau, Tasman and Bay of Plenty.
The ITM Cup changed timetable means each team will play one mid-week game instead of two. Waikato's short turn around comes in weeks seven and eight when they face Wellington, Tasman and Bay of Plenty within nine days.
Competition semifinals are over the weekend of October 18-20, with the final the following weekend.
