"We believe 10 is the appropriate number at this time,'' board member Mike Parsons from Harrington Waters said.

The competition takes in clubs from Forster-Tuncurry to Kempsey. Mr Parsons said the Mid North Coast had the depth in player numbers and facilities to comfortably handle 10 clubs in the elite competition.

Mr Parsons confirmed there would be a promotion/relegation match at the end of the season if a club in the either the southern or northern local competitions challenged for a place and passed the necessary criteria.

He said clubs had until August to notify the board of their intention to challenge.

"We haven't received any yet,'' he said.

However, Mr Parsons believes Tuncurry-Forster Tigers will seek a spot in the league in 2015.

The club is currently running first and second in the southern competition after dropping out of the premier league when beaten by Port Saints in the promtion/relegation last season.

"Tuncurry-Forster has a proud history and has been a member of the premier league in the past,'' Mr Parsons said.

"I haven't spoken to any of their officials yet, but they indicated last year that they wanted to eventually return to the premier league. The club would have the necessary player depth and would meet all requirements to play in the premier league, so I'll make an educated guess and say they will challenge this year.''

Should Tuncurry-Forster challenge and this is accepted they will tackle the side that finishes last in the premier league.

The premier league's second round starts tomorrow. Wingham currently sits in last place, five points behind equal ninth placed Port Saints and Old Bar.

Mr Parsons isn't expecting a club from the Hastings or Macleay areas to seek a premier league berth. There are currently two Kempsey clubs in the competition - Macleay Valley and Kempsey Saints and four from Port Macquarie - Port FC, Port Saints and Port United.

"I don't think there's the player depth in the Hastings for another premier league club,'' he said.

Mr Parsons further confirmed that should the challenge game go ahead it would be played on premier league grand final day. There has been some criticism of this in the past as the side that finishes in the premier league cellar has to wait a month before playing the promotion/relegation game. The challenging side is involved in semi-finals of the domestic competitions up to a fortnight before the premier league grand final day.

"There have been some different scenarios put forward as to how to play the game, but we believe the way it is works best for us,'' Mr Parsons said.