There'll be fewer midweek matches in next year's provincial rugby competition with the New Zealand Rugby Union announcing it will be played over a nine-week period from mid-August to October.
The NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says feedback from provinces wanted a reduction in the short turnaround teams had when playing a weekend match and then having to back up with a midweek game.
The playoff format will be retained with the draw for the 2013 competition to be released in February.