An agreement between the Otago coaches and Dunedin clubs means all representative players will be available to play in the premier semifinals and final this year.
When Tony Brown and Phil Young became the Otago coaches last year, they made it clear form in club rugby would count for representative selection.
Their hands were partly forced by the union's financial crisis. But it brought a new edge to the club competition and played a significant role in helping Otago reach the final of the ITM Cup Championship.
''There are plenty of positions open for players who show form in club rugby,'' Brown said. Last year, Kaikorai outside back Tony Ensor gained Otago selection after showing form in club rugby. He is now in the Highlanders squad.
Premier clubs have agreed to bring the final of the Dunedin competition forward to the last Saturday in July to allow representative players to take part in the semifinals and final.
''Last year, the top players were playing and it made for a good club semifinal and final,'' Brown said.
''I want the best players to be in the club final but it is also critical for us to have enough preparation time to get them ready for the ITM Cup.''
Metropolitan Rugby Council chairman John Hammer said clubs wanted the same format to be used for the premier competition again this year.
Two full rounds (18 games) will be followed by semifinals and the final.
The original plan was to play the final on August 3, but this would not have left the Otago coaches enough time to prepare the team before the national championship starts on Thursday, August 15.
''We went back to Tony and Phil and they wanted two clear weeks with the team before the first game,'' Hammer said.
The council had to find another week and they went back to the clubs and gave them several options.
The clubs wanted the 20-game format to remain and the Otago players to be available.
The compromise clubs agreed to was to play the extra game on the Friday of Queen's Birthday Weekend and another round on Monday, June 3.
There is another double-header weekend around Anzac Day. One round will be played on Thursday, April 25 and another round on Sunday, April 28.
''It has been shown over the last two years how important it is to have representative players available to play in the club semifinals and final,'' Hammer said.
Dunedin rugby
2013 club season
Format: Two complete rounds of 18 games, followed by semifinals and final.
Dates: Thursday, March 28 (start); double-header (Anzac Day and Sunday, April 28); double-header (Friday, May 31 and Queen's Birthday Monday); semifinals (July 20); final (July 27).
