Greater Western Sydney Giants chief executive David Matthews believes next season's Friday night Western Bulldogs clash will be "a certain sell-out".
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The reigning premiers will headline a trio of regular season fixtures at Manuka Oval after the AFL published the 2017 fixture on Thursday morning.
Matthews likened Friday night football to playing on Rod Laver Arena's centre court at the Australian Open with the fixture usually the highest-rating game of the round.
The Bulldogs will come to Canberra in round six to join the Giants for a slice of history in GWS' first Friday night game.
"I think it's a magnificent game for the people of Canberra to have," Matthews said.
"The reigning premiers up against the Giants as Canberra's home team on the national stage.
"We're really on centre stage so it's a great opportunity for the Giants obviously but also ACT Government to be able to really showcase and put the nation's capital front and centre of what we're trying to achieve so it's fantastic."
The Bulldogs match will be sandwiched by two Saturday afternoon matches against Port Adelaide in round four and the Melbourne Demons in round 20.
North Melbourne looks set to rekindle its old relationship with Canberra with the Kangaroos firming as the Giants' NAB Challenge opposition at Manuka Oval.
Almost 40,000 fans watched the Giants' three premiership matches in Canberra this year, with their round 19 clash against Richmond breaking Manuka Oval's attendance record.
Matthews believes it is a feat that can not only be met, but surpassed - the club are aiming for a sell-out in all three games.
"That's our ambition," Matthews said.
"We'll be putting plans in place now that we've got the fixture, we'll be working with Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs to maximise the promotion and see how we go."
Matthews said drawing the reigning premiers to Canberra on a Friday night was crucial to the ongoing success of the Giants and the partnership with the nation's capital.
The Giants boss said the opponent is "fortuitous" for everyone involved given the burgeoning rivalry between the two clubs, but the timeslot is the major carrot.
"The truth of the matter is that the opponent doesn't matter anywhere near as much as the timeslot so for the Giants and Canberra to be on Friday night is just enormous," Matthews said.
"We've said a few times that as we continue to build, we're hoping that the games will sell-out off the back of the fact that the Giants have established a great connection with Canberra and a great presence in terms of membership and other things.
"We're hoping over time it shouldn't matter too much who we're playing, we should be selling these games out."
Matthews believes the teams playing at Manuka Oval next year will be attractive enough to achieve GWS' goal of three sell-out crowds.
"Port's a very dynamic club - they're led by David Koch," Matthews said.
"They're very ambitious and creative. To see them go and play a game in China tells you that they're very open to promotion.
"I think most people see Melbourne as a football club and a football team that's on the rise. They've really made great strides over the last couple of years."
While the AFL is yet to confirm the NAB Challenge fixture, the expectation is North Melbourne will return to the capital.
The Kangaroos hosted eighteen matches in Canberra between 1998 and 2006 and held Manuka Oval's attendance record until the mark was beaten by GWS and Richmond this year.
AFL GAMES AT MANUKA OVAL IN 2017
Round four: GWS Giants v Port Adelaide on Saturday, April 15 at 4.35pm
Round six: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs on Friday, April 28 at 7.50pm
Round 20: GWS Giants v Melbourne on Saturday, August 5 at 1.45pm
