Bannsiders home to Mallards in opener

The Bannsiders travel to north west neighbours Insttitute on Wednesday 13, before hosting Warren Fenney’s Linfield the following Saturday.

Ballymena United, Cliftonville, Linfield and Portadown will have home advantage in their respective traditional Boxing Day derby fixtures.

Each club will play 33 matches before the league again splits into a top six and bottom six at the end of March.

The publication of the fixtures for the Premiership, Championship One and Championship Two divisions comes the day after agreement was reached over proposals to overhaul the local game.

Danske Bank have been confirmed as sponsors of the Premiership for a third consecutive season.

First round of Danske Bank Premiership fixtures - Saturday 9 August

Ballymena United v Warrenpoint Town

Cliftonville v Glentoran

Coleraine v Ballinamallard Utd

Dungannon Swifts v Institute

Glenavon v Crusaders

Linfield v Portadown

Wednesday 13 August fixtures

Ballinamallard Utd v Dungannon Swifts

Crusaders v Ballymena Utd

Glentoran v Linfield

Institute v Coleraine

Portadown v Cliftonville

Warrenpoint Town v Glenavon