Following months of uncertainty in the wake of last February’s Port-Said disaster, the 18-team competition will kick off without Masri who serve a one-year domestic ban for their involvement in the calamity.

Reigning champions Ahli visit Ghazl Mahalla in their season’s curtain raiser, while Zamalek open their campaign against Harras Hodoud at home before travelling to Ismaili the next week.

Ahli and Zamalek will meet at the finale of both rounds, as the FA opted to put back the derby clashes to avoid any potential turmoil early in the season.

The Cairo rivals will, however, have their opening games postponed as they clash in the CAF Champions League on September 16, just one day before the league kicks off.

Ten stadiums have been assigned for staging games as six of them are under the supervision of Egyptian military forces.