Auckland City get the ball rolling on Saturday afternoon when they play host to last season’s regular season runners-up Canterbury United at Kiwitea Street.
City coach Ramon Tribulietx has added ASB Premiership Player of the Year Chris Bale and former Charleroi midfielder Pedro Garcia to the ranks, while former All Whites Chad Coombes and Adam McGeorge depart.
Canterbury United boast a solid line-up as they aim for a record fourth-consecutive play-off place with coach Keith Braithwaite retaining the services of influential All White Aaron Clapham and the club’s leading scorer Russell Kamo.
The round one matches will continue on Sunday with Hawke’s Bay United visiting Waikato FC at Porritt Stadium.
Hawke’s Bay have added former All Whites Cole Peverley and Jarrod Smith to provide some much needed know-how and experience, as well as three former Waitakere United players in Sean Lovemore, Dakota Lucas and Ross Haviland.
Waikato coach Declan Edge has lost Tyler Boyd to the Phoenix and Jason Hicks to Auckland City but has four players itching to make their debut for the squad molded from mostly local players.
New Waitakere coach Paul Marshall has added ten new players to his side, including the 2011-12 regular season Golden Boot winner George Slefendorfas who has moved north from Canterbury.
Waitakere will host Team Wellington, who have added Danish pair Andreas Damgaard and Karsten Viborg for a European vibe alongside McGeorge and Solomon Islands international Henry Fa’arodo who returns after starring at the back end of last season.
For the full ASB Premiership match schedule visit www.asbpremiership.co.nz

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