The former Eastlake player is trying to force his way into the Giants side for their finals debut to complete a journey from selling clothes in Canberra to AFL's biggest stage in less than 12 months.

The Giants are preparing for a cross-town showdown with the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium to begin their first finals campaign in a historic moment for Australian football.

The Giants made a stunning surge this year to finish fourth on the ladder to set up a clash against minor premier Sydney.

More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash, which has forced the NRL to move from ANZ Stadium, and it is hoped there will be more than 60,000 fans at the match.

But Himmelberg and Canberra junior Jack Steele form part of a Giants group using the NEAFL to try to impress coach Leon Cameron to win a recall for the premiership bid.

"There's a pretty good vibe at the club at the moment," Himmelberg said.

"We've reached the point where we wanted to be when we started the season, but this is where the hard work begins for us.

"Getting into the finals is a pretty big milestone for the club and everyone is pretty rapt we've made it, but it's only the start of what we've got coming up.

"For me, moving into the back line was challenging early and it's a different level when you step up to the AFL. But I'm pretty happy with the way I've progressed this year and now I've got to do everything I can in the NEAFL to get picked."

The Giants completed a clean sweep of their three premiership games in Canberra this year for the first time since signing a 10-year deal to plan matches in the capital.

Fans flocked to Manuka Oval to sell out the venue and there will be Canberra supporters' buses going to Sydney for their first finals appearance.

Himmelberg and Steele are riding the wave of excitement at the AFL's newest club after the Giants shocked the competition to secure a top-four berth.

Steele played 10 games in his second AFL season before a broken hand halted his AFL rise.

Himmelberg, a Wagga junior, made his debut in round 17 against the Brisbane Lions and played four games at the top level before moving back to the reserve grade side.

The 20-year-old was taken with pick No. 16 in the draft last year, transforming his life from a shop assistant to AFL player.

"It's definitely a bit of a change in lifestyle and everything that you do," Himmelberg said.

"I was renting a house in Canberra with four other blokes and training three nights per week, but I'm loving everything about the move to Sydney.

"I was working at YD and it was good to get into the workforce to see what it was like. But it definitely made me want to play footy for a living, that's for sure."

Himmelberg will start at halfback in the Giants' NEAFL preliminary final against Sydney University.

The match will double as a grand final qualifier and a selection trial in front of Cameron as players, including Rhys Palmer, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Sam Fisher and Steele all try to show they're ready for AFL finals duties.

Himmelberg said he was ready to prove he could step up if Cameron taps him on the shoulder.

"It's important for everyone to play well and obviously a lot of the boys are pushing for [AFL] selection," Himmelberg said.

"You want that call from the coach, and it would be massive to get an opportunity in finals in my first year. Consistency is the key for the AFL so it starts this weekend and we'll go from there.

"It's important to keep raising the bar ... the couple of games I did play in the AFL, I think I caught on to the pace of the game. I'll definitely be ready if I get that call and I'll prepare as if I'm playing."

* There will be a GWS Giants supporters' bus going from Canberra to Sydney for the final against the Sydney Swans. For more information, visit: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2016-08-31/road-trip-to-finals