Lansdowne coach Mike Ruddock says the re-introduction of the play-off system for the Ulster Bank League is not ideal but they will embrace the changes.
The All-Ireland League kicks off on Friday night and, for the first time since 2011, will hold a play-off stage after the regular season is complete with the final being played at Aviva Stadium on 9 May, 2015.
The title race went down to the final day last season with Clontarf claiming a dramatic win as Old Belvedere lost to Garryowen.
Asked if he would prefer to keep that system in place, Ireland U20 coach Ruddock told RTÉ Sport: “Definitely, I’m a first-over-the-line man. In principle, because that shows a lot of consistency throughout the year.
“Sometimes you can have one or two days where your kicker is off, you might be putting loads of pressure on as a team, you might have one or two days where 50/50 decisions go against you or a last-minute penalty goes against you.
"But over the course of the season they should even themselves out so that’s why I think the 'first past the post' one is really good [and] is a really good indicator [of the best team].
“But those are the rules. We all know them up front. That creates another opportunity, another challenge. As every coach does, you try and embrace those no matter what your individual feelings might be.
“This is the same criteria for winning as it is in the Pro12 league, as it is in the English Premiership so it’s a pretty standard format now.”
UCD and St Mary’s begin the campaign on Friday night in Belfield, while Lansdowne kick off their season at home to Dolphin on Saturday.
Ulster Bank Leagues 2014/15 fixtures:
(Full fixture lists are available on the IRFU website: www.irishrugby.ie)
Ulster Bank League Division 1A Round 1 Fixtures:
Friday 12 September, 2014
U.C.D. v St Mary's College
Saturday 13 September, 2014
Clontarf v Young Munster
Lansdowne v Dolphin
Old Belvedere v Cork Constitution
Terenure College v Ballynahinch
Ulster Bank League Division 1B Round 1 Fixtures:
Friday 12 September, 2014
Garryowen v Shannon
Saturday 13 September, 2014
Ballymena v Corinthians
Galwegians v Dublin University
Malone v Buccaneers
U.L. Bohs v Belfast Harlequins
Ulster Bank League Division 2A Round 1 Fixtures:
Friday 19th September, 2014
Skerries v Old Wesley
Saturday 20 September, 2014
Banbridge v Cashel
Bective Rangers v Seapoint
Dungannon v Nenagh Ormond
N.U.I.M Barnhall v Blackrock College
Naas v U.C.C.
Rainey Old Boys v City of Derry
Thomond v Queens University
Ulster Bank League Division 2 Round 1 Fixtures:
Saturday 20 September, 2014
Boyne v Greystones
Bruff v Highfield
Navan v Kanturk
Old Crescent v City of Armagh
Richmond v Midleton
Sligo v Ards
Tullamore v D.L.S.P.
Wanderers v Sunday's Well
