"Round one of the Premier A1 competition begins on Monday, May 28, but we have an open day on Saturday, April 28 and a modified pre-season tournament featuring all six premier sides on Monday, May 14.
"It will be an interesting season with a six team format and with the arrival of Cullinane some of the clubs have lost players," Edmonds said.
Kaiwhaiki was probably affected most with Cullinane entering the top six, losing three
players who returned to the school team.
Coach Te Rina Peina said fortunately the Kaiwhaiki squad was big enough to cope with the loss.
"It was fantastic the girls were able to return to the school team, but we always had a big enough squad to cope. It was exciting to make the final last year in our first season back in the division for some time. Our aim is to at least make top four this year," Peina said.
Meanwhile, Edmonds' Kaierau side has sustained several key changes from last season's title-winning line-up.
"I have lost Lisa Lin and Talia Su'a, who have both gone to Otago University and Madison Engert has moved on, while Georgia Flower has moved to Mount Maunganui. But I have the vastly experienced Suzanne Guilford returning after her year off last season and Sarah Teki-Clark has transferred from Marist. I also have Ashley Murphy on-board after returning home from university and Rebekah Alabaster has transferred from Taihape.
"I think other teams have also had line-up changes, so it will be interesting," Edmonds said.
Whanganui High School coach Lisa Murphy worked with a young team last season and retains the core of that team for 2018.
"Last year I had Year 10 players, but this season my youngest is Year 11 with the remainder Year 12 and Year 13," Murphy said.
"We have had a couple of training runs, but our first real hit out will be open day on April 28. Most of my girls play summer sport, including rowing, so they are still quite fit."
Mere Te Aroha coach DeShannon Matthews was excited about the upcoming season despite fielding a younger side than last year.
"I have quite a young side, although not entirely lacking in experience at A1 level," Matthews said.
"I have a couple of girls who have left High School and they played A1 last year and I also have a couple of Whanganui Girls College girls wanting to play A1 after playing in A2 last season. There is also a few of my more experienced players from last year returning.
"So it's going to be an exciting year and great for the club in terms of development."
Marist A1 has a new coach with Donna Jeffrey taking over from Sharon Kaua. Jeffrey has ample experience in the game as a player and coach and also spent a year as Netball Whanganui game development officer.
"I will be coaching with help from Alicia Prince and we have a core number of last season's players returning alongside some younger girls still at school. It's a mix of experienced older players with younger girls - it's all about development," Jeffrey said.
Kaierau and High School had dominated the division over the past decade, although last season proved more of a challenge for both despite Kaierau winning the final against a brave Kaiwhaiki.
Kaiwhaiki produced back-to-back minor upsets to make into the final with Kaierau, but were soundly beaten 70-37.
Cullinane Coach Tash Bullock could not be contacted for comment.
