The Rugby Football League has announced a major revamp of the Super League play-offs for the 2009 season. The biggest change now allows the highest-placed team after the first round to choose their semi-final opponents in week three.

The four-week series, which ends with the Grand Final on 10 October, will now involve the top eight teams after the league’s expansion from 12 to 14 clubs.

Format

Week One:
Game 1 Qualifying play-off one 1st v 4th (winner receives a bye to week three)
Game 2Qualifying play-off two 2nd v 3rd (winner receives a bye to week three)
Game 3 Elimination play-off one 5th v 8th (loser goes out)
Game 4 Elimination play-off two 6th v 7th (loser goes out)

Week Two:
Game 5 Preliminary semi-final one loser game 1 v winner game 3
Game 6 Preliminary semi-final two loser game 2 v winner game 4

Week Three:
Game 7 *Qualifying semi-final one – winner game 1 v winner game 5
Game 8 *Qualifying semi-final two – winner game 2 v winner game 6
* subject to choice of highest placed winner in week one

Week Four:
Grand Final winner game 7 v winner game 8