Several clubs have expressed concern that the split should have produced a top six to spread the opportunity to play against better opposition.
The winner of this year's league will also play in a one-off championship match against the Mainland Football champion in an unofficial South Island championship final.
Negotiations are continuing for a return to the preferred format of the top two teams from those regions being involved.
Dunedin Technical leads the league by five points, but coach Mike Fridge warns against complacency.
"Teams behind us have games in hand, and there is another full round to go . . . [we] need to keep our foot down hard on the accelerator," he said.
Technical is at home, at Tahuna Park, for what is always regarded as a dangerous match against player-coach Barry Gardiner's Spirit FC side, at 2.45pm.
The presence of Gardiner and fellow Scottish professional Craig Milne within the hard-working southern side could snatch the goal that would put pressure on Technical.
But statistics favour yet another clean sheet for Technical's defence, with linchpins Blair Scoullar and Cam Parkin running a tight pattern that has only conceded two goals in seven matches.
Star striker Aaron Burgess, despite not being fully recovered from a hamstring injury, is likely to get some game time and will be aiming to add to his haul of 18 goals so far.
In the only early match, Mosgiel's top-four ambitions will fire up Mike McGarry's side for a no-mercy onslaught towards the Otago Youth side at 12.45pm at the Caledonian Ground.
Neil Mackenzie's Youth side has had the typical inconsistent performances one would expect from a development side, but, when its attack clicks, the team is capable of creating dangerous goal scoring chances.
The Caledonian's 2.45pm match will depend on whether Varsity coach Alan Bain's side is intimidated by Caversham's recent incisive form.
As Steve Fleming continues to reshape last year's champion, there will be much interest in his team selection.
Roslyn-Wakari, second on the table, plays Grants Braes at Ellis Park and, after conceding more than a goal per game, Roslyn will need to keep tabs on Braes striker Ben Eder, who is on a scoring streak.
The match could also see the return of Jamie Brown playing against his old team.
The flamboyant Queenstown side visits a Green Island side attempting to consolidate winning form after an impressive 4-1 away win in Invercargill last week.
