As in 2011 and this season, the 18 clubs will be divided into six divisions.
Each division will gather at a single venue for its round-one matches, which will be shortened lightning premiership-style games.
The competition will begin on the weekend of February 15-17, with three divisions playing their round-one games at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Patersons Stadium in Perth and AAMI Stadium in Adelaide.
The other three divisions will play their shortened matches on the weekend of February 22-24.
The venues for those games are Etihad Stadium, Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast and the Blacktown International Sports Park in western Sydney.
Rounds two and three of the pre-season competition will involve full-length matches played at a range of regional and metropolitan venues in each state and territory.
The top two teams on the competition ladder will play off in the Grand Final on the weekend of March 15-16.
The other 16 clubs will play practice matches on that weekend.
Fox Footy will exclusively broadcast a number of matches in rounds one, two and three, while the Grand Final will be broadcast live by both Fox Footy and the Seven Network.
