Soccer: Knights get home advantage in A-League openers

New Zealand Knights fans will have plenty of early chances to see their team in action at home when the A-League season kicks off.

The Knights will play the Newcastle Jets at North Harbour Stadium in the opening round of the pre-season cup on July 16 and defending Hyundai A-League champions Sydney FC in Christchurch two weeks later.

Their pre-season away games will be against Queensland Roar in Maroochydore and against Adelaide United in what has been tagged a "bonus round" with teams playing a side from the other group with extra points awarded for goals scored.

The final is scheduled for August 20.

The A-League season proper kicks-off the following weekend and features a replay of this year's grand final between champions Sydney and Central Coast Mariners in Sydney on August 27.

The opening game will be played in Melbourne on August 25 with the Victory at home to last year's round-robin winner Adelaide United.

The Knights kick-off their season proper with the second clash in a little over a month with the Newcastle Jets, again at North Harbour Stadium.

While Adelaide have been handed few favours, they are away for their first two games, the Knights have been drawn at home for five of their first six games, playing away only twice, in Perth and Brisbane, in the first round.

Their second league game is against Adelaide at the unusual kick-off time of 12.30pm on Saturday, September 2.

The following week, against Melbourne, they play on Sunday, again at 12.30pm.

They have, however, been handed two of the dreaded 8pm Thursday kick-offs, against Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners in successive (September 21 and 28) rounds.

There will be a shorter Christmas break this season - just the weekend covering December 23-26 off.

The grand final is scheduled for February 18.

The winners of the grand final and the premiership (league) round will have the opportunity to participate in the 2007 Asian Champions League. This does not include the Knights.

While it seems the Auckland-based franchise has been well looked after with the draw, they might not have the same enthusiasm over the tweaking of the rules.

The salary cap has been increased by A$100,000 ($120,000) to A$1.6 million.

There is also an additional services agreement of A$400,000 which clubs can use to ensure players have greater latitude in getting personal endorsements from club sponsors.

Franchises may again have guest players (up to two) and marquee players whose payments are considered to be outside the salary cap which could help cash-rich clubs but may be outside the pockets of the less financial franchises.

The number of under-20 players in each of the eight clubs has been reduced from three to two.

Football Federation Australia also signalled their intention to crack down on player and coach dissent. Referees have been instructed to send off any player for using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures.