A new league playing format will be one of the top issues on the Harare Volleyball Association pre-season meeting when the clubs converge to set up a road map for the upcoming season on Saturday.

Asssiation chair Shadreck Chisoko told SportsZone that there is huge chance that clubs will accept the proposed league format to be accepted.

“We have got the backing of some of the big clubs on the new format; however, the more important thing is to find common ground between creating more games and limiting costs.

“And it is this issue of expenses which has caused resistance from other clubs, we understand that but tomorrow we hope to find common ground,” he said.

The HVA executive has proposed to merge the Division One with the Premier League to give clubs more game time in the season.

The proposed format is that 16 teams will be ranked with the top teams seeded into conferences A and B while the other 14 teams will pick lots to go into either conference.

Teams will play home and away matches in their respective conferences making it a total of 14 matches and those who would have finished in the top four in each conference will qualify to the super eight league.

The bottom four teams will also play in their eight team league.

This means each team will play 28 matches in the season twice as much as the number of matches played using the current home and away format.

Chisoko reckons embracing the new format will improve competition in the league which will also benefit the national team and local club’s participation in regional tournaments.

“More games will truly reflect the capabilities of teams, it will also give the national selectors good time to assess players.

“And on the other hand our clubs will be well prepared for the Region V games which come end of year,” he said.

Chisoko also said the HVA Open could be played on Africa Day meaning the season could start next weekend.

“I am sceptical about the dates, it could on Africa Day or the following weekend, but obviously the Open will be played to mark the official start of the season.”

Giants Support Unit are the men’s defending HVA Open champions whilst in the women’s category UZ Wolves have the title.