Holders Woodlands and their JCT 600 Bradford League rivals Pudsey Congs, who contested the 2007 Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy final, will be kept apart in the draw for next season's first round.

The Management Committee decided today to introduce a seeding system and also agreed to use fielding circles in the competition for the first time in 2008.

Under the new system the eight top seeded teams will be kept apart in the first round and will all face away ties against the champions of the eight unseeded leagues.

Woodlands captain Tim Orrell receives the cup after the 2007 final

Holders Woodlands will be seeded along with Pudsey Congs (JCT 600 Bradford League), Collingham (Aire Wharfe), Honley (Huddersfield), Townville (Central Yorkshire), Elsecar (South Yorkshire), York (Yorkshire League), and Clifton Alliance (York Senior).

The seeding system will guarantee all of the "minnows" a home tie against a top eight side. It is a move aimed at generating additional interest in the competition.

The eight unseeded teams who will have home ties in round one are Hepworth/Idle (Bradford Central), Cullingworth (Craven), Hull YPI (EPI East Yorkshire), Mytholmroyd (Halifax), Caribbean (Leeds/West Riding), Killinghall (Nidderdale), Streethouse (Pontefract) and Church Fenton (Wetherby).

The introduction of the 30 yard fielding circle means that teams will not be allowed more than two players outside the circle for the first 15 overs. After that they must have the bowler, wicketkeeper and four fielders inside the circle. A maximum of five fielders will be allowed outside the circle after the 15th over.