By Julian Trantino (@jtrantino16)

Reigning PS4 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Victoria champion South Melbourne and runner-up Oakleigh Cannons will open the new season at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday, February 19, following Football Federation Victoria's release of the 2015 senior NPL fixtures today.

The blockbuster opener is one of 650 matches to be played across the NPL and two NPL 1 conferences in 2015, with six added teams, 31 venues, a finals series and at least 58,500 minutes of football to form the make-up of the three leagues.

“It’s a long time between seasons and what a way to start the new season with the two best teams of 2014 in a standalone fixture at one of Victoria’s premier venues,” Head of NPL, Liam Bentley, said.

The night after the season opener, newly promoted teams North Geelong Warriors and Avondale FC will play away to FFA Cup fairytale story Bentleigh Greens and Melbourne Knights respectively.

The first round of the NPL will span five days, with Green Gully concluding the action at home to Northcote City on Monday night.

Pascoe Vale will christen its new facility CB Smith Reserve, which is co-shared with Moreland Zebras, at home to Northcote City in Round 4, while South Melbourne and Knights fans will have to wait until Round 8 for their sides to meet at Lakeside Stadium.

NPL finals (top six teams) will feature for the first time in Victoria, commencing on August 28-30 and concluding on September 13, while several fixtures will be played on ANZAC Day.

“With ANZAC Day falling on a weekend this year, the PS4 NPL will have a recognised ANZAC weekend of fixtures with a number of matches played on ANZAC Day itself, allowing the football family to pay its respects on the 100-year anniversary,” Bentley said.

“We’re also thrilled to have a finals series back, which has been very well received by the NPL clubs and the Victorian football community. Finals were not a possibility last season given the late start, so having them back in 2015 will make for an exciting finish to the regular season.”

Victoria’s second division was recently split into two conferences – NPL 1 East and NPL 1 West – to accommodate for six new additions: Eastern Lions, Moreland City, Nunawading City, Murray United, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.

Murray United’s debut match in the NPL 1 East will be at home to Box Hill United on February 21, while Eastern Lions (Dandenong City) and Nunawading City (Kingston City) will be on the road in Round 1.

New club Bendigo City FC, which has replaced FC Bendigo, will open the NPL 1 West season at home to Moreland City on February 21.

Melbourne Victory (East) and Melbourne City (West) won’t begin their season until Round 3 because of National Youth League commitments.

Each NPL 1 team will play every team in its conference twice, and teams in the opposing conference once.

The champions of each conference will contest the NPL 1 Grand Final on September 18-20.

The runners-up of each conference will meet at a similar date, with the winner to come up against the 12th-placed NPL team on September 25-27 for a spot in the top division in 2016.

Bentley said the fixture had required extensive consultation with all 34 NPL clubs.

“There are a large amount of parameters in creating fixtures with ground availability and volume of games, especially with the increased number of teams and the FFA Cup in play,” he said.

“FFV has taken on board plenty of feedback and requests from our clubs to create a fixture that will work for clubs, players and fans alike.

“It is also pleasing that the NPL has become more widespread in Victoria with the addition of another regional club in Murray United, who join fellow regional clubs Goulburn Valley Suns, Ballarat Red Devils, North Geelong Warriors and Bendigo City FC.”

FFV will release the NPL junior fixtures late next week, while the Sportsmart Women's Premier League fixture will be revealed on December 16.

Click the links below to see the 2015 fixtures:

PS4 NPL
PS4 NPL 1 East
PS4 NPL 1 West