The long-awaited new season of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership gets underway tonight as we kick-off the new campaign.

The league now has eight teams, with Mid Ulster and Lisburn joining Glentoran, Cliftonville, Crusaders, Linfield, Derry City and Sion Swifts in the top-flight.

Each team will play the other seven sides twice, home and away, before the league splits into a top four and bottom four – with each team playing other sides in their half two more times, meaning that each team plays 20 league matches.

There will also be a mid-season break of Premiership fixtures between 1 June and 1 August, to allow for the Northern Ireland side’s participation in the European Championships.

All eight sides are in action on the opening night as defending champions Glentoran start their campaign at home to newly promoted Lisburn.

Crusaders v Derry City (Seaview, 7.45pm)
Crusaders lost five of their last six league matches last season but will look to make a quick start against Derry City on Seaview. The Crues lost 2-1 against the Candystripes at the Brandywell in that run and will be aware of the improvement of their opponents in recent campaigns.

Josh Boyle will be in charge of the visitors in place of Kevin McLaughlin, who left the club earlier this month – with Derry on the lookout for a permanent replacement. The Crues loss at Derry last year ended their run of 14 successive victories over the Candystripes.

Glentoran v Lisburn (Ashfield Boys HS, 7.45pm)
Glentoran won their last nine Premiership matches last season to seal the league title and will face newly-promoted Lisburn in their league opener this season.

These two sides have never clashed in the league before so there is no form guide to go-by, but the hosts will be heavy favourites to make a winning start to the campaign.

Lisburn will be hopeful of establishing themselves in the top-flight this season with goalkeeper Caoimhe Callaghan – formerly of Sion Swifts and Cliftonville – and former Reds defender Claire Rooney among their close-season signings.

Linfield v Mid Ulster (New Midgley, 7.45pm)
Linfield ended a tough campaign on a high note last season with home wins over Derry and Crusaders respectively, and host newly promoted Mid Ulster in their first league game this season.

Phil Lewis has bolstered his inexperienced Blues squad with seven signings over the close season and they will be hoping of significantly improving on last season’s fifth-placed finish.

Mid Ulster will have similar ambitions to Lisburn in trying to establish themselves in the top-flight and will be hopeful of making an impression in their first ever Premiership game.

Sion Swifts v Cliftonville (Melvin Sports Complex, 7.45pm)
Cliftonville won all four league matches between these sides last season by an aggregate scoreline of 13-5 including a 6-2 victory on the last day of last season.

However, Sion had won six games on the bounce against the Reds going into that game and recorded a respectable fourth-placed finish last campaign.

Cliftonville will be hopeful of going one place further in the league and lifting the title this campaign but an opening day trip to Sion is an early banana skin for John McGrady’s side.