The Camanachd Association has confirmed the start date for the 2009 shinty season.

The season will commence on Saturday 6 March 2009. Clubs will of course be playing pre-season friendlies in the weeks leading up to the official start of the season.

It will be a new look Marine Harvest National Premier League with Glenorchy from the South and Glenurquhart from the North replacing the two releagated North teams - Lovat and Strathglass.

This means that the 2009 Marine Harvest Premier League will be made up of five North teams; Kingussie, Newtonmore, Fort William, Lochaber and Glenurquhart and five South teams; Kyles Athletic, Inveraray, Oban Camanachd, Bute and Glenorchy.