Leicester City supporters are being warned to expect Saturday afternoon matches to run until 5pm as referees bid to get a handle on time wasting.
EFL officials are adopting a World Cup-style approach to timekeeping in the new season and added time is expected to rocket in both halves.
Instead of a generic 30 seconds being added for each goal or substitute, the watch will be stopped until the restart. The clock will be stopped for red card incidents and around penalty kicks too rather than the previous approach, which was to add a nominal amount of time.
Refs are being told to make allowances based on match events to deal with teams who delay restarts at, for instance, goal-kicks and throw-ins.
At the same time, players who need physio treatment will be removed from the pitch as efficiently as possible and will receive their attention off the field. They will not be allowed back on for at least 30 seconds, with the time being monitored by the fourth official.
The ball was in play for about five or six minutes less in the Championship last season compared to at the World Cup. The aim is to at least get level over the next few months – or possibly add eight or nine extra minutes of action compared to last season.
FIFA and IFAB have a long-term target for matches to have about 60 minutes of ball in play. It was about 57 minutes at the World Cup.