Perth Lynx have scored a massive win before the season has even begun, with the WNBL changing their fixture to guarantee they will no longer be forced to play away games while their fans are still eating breakfast.

The Lynx were frustrated at being required to play one game at 9am WST and two matches at 9.30am last season, which followed similar schedules in previous years. But the WNBL has pushed back their starting times for next season, and Perth’s earliest away game will now be at 10am WST.

Night games in Perth have also been moved forward to start at 6pm to make it easier for visiting clubs to adjust their body clocks.

New WNBL Chief Operating Officer Justin Nelson said it was important to give players the best opportunity to play at an elite level.

“It’s a move in the right direction,” Nelson told The West Australian.

“We certainly understand the complications of travelling from one side of the country to the other. We are pretty happy about that.

“We were all strong on it. We want to deliver a product that is better for fans and better for players. There is even more I would like to do in the future to make it better for everybody.”

The league will expand to nine teams this season following the introduction of Tasmania Jewels, and that will also result in a change to the finals format.

The top five teams will now play finals, with clubs ranked fourth and fifth playing in a single-elimination match for the right to be part of the semi-finals.

Nelson said it was the right time to change the finals system.

“You want to keep fans in the season for as long as possible, and hopefully teams five, six, seven and eight are all in the running for that fifth place position,” he said.

“It will extend the longevity of the season, and it starts to project the league for the future. The league would like to expand even further in future years so we can start that journey now by going to a final five.”

The Lynx are desperate to end a championship drought that extends to 1992 and will get the chance to play against the team that beat them in last season’s thrilling grand final in round one. The Lynx will kick off their season with a clash against Townsville Fire at Perth High Performance Centre on October 17.

PERTH LYNX FIXTURE - All games are WST

Sat Oct 17 v Townsville at Perth High Performance Centre, 4pm

Sat Oct 24 v Adelaide at SA State Basketball Centre, 4pm

Tues Nov 3 v Townsville at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, 4pm

Tues Nov 10 v Bendigo at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Fri Nov 13 v Geelong at Geelong Arena, 4pm

Sun Nov 15 v Southside at Vic State Basketball Centre, 10am

Tues Nov 24 v Canberra at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Sat Nov 28 v Adelaide at Perth High Performance Centre, 4pm

Fri Dec 4 v Sydney at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Tues Dec 8 v Bendigo at Red Energy Arena, 4pm

Sun Dec 13 v Tasmania at Perth High Performance Centre, 4pm

Thurs Dec 17 v Southside at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Sun Dec 20 v Sydney at Quay Centre, 10am

Wed Dec 30 v Geelong at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Sat Jan 2 v Tasmania at Silverdome, 12pm

Fri Jan 8 v Canberra at Perth High Performance Centre, 6pm

Mon Jan 11 v Southside at TBC, 4pm

Wed Jan 13 v Townsville at RAC Arena, 4pm

Sun Jan 17 v Bendigo at RAC Arena, 11.30am

Fri Jan 22 v Geelong at Geelong Arena, 4.30pm

Sun Jan 24 v Adelaide at Perth High Performance Centre, 11am

Fri Jan 29 v Canberra at AIS Arena, 4pm