The Canberra Raiders will play in their first preliminary final since 1997 in Melbourne on Saturday night, but Green Machine fans should save the date for a homecoming next year with the NRL to consider overhauling its finals system.
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The Raiders' surge into the penultimate game of the season and big crowds in Canberra are set to help convince NRL bosses to restore the capital's hosting rights for future preliminary finals.
Had the Raiders won their opening game of the finals this year, they would have been forced to play the North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney in a grand-final qualifier.
Under the current rules, Canberra can host finals in the opening two weeks of the play-offs, but have to move home games to Sydney for a preliminary final.
But NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg revealed officials will consider a preliminary final revamp to allow Canberra to host the fixture in future years if the Raiders secure the rights.
Greenberg also heaped praise on the Raiders for the way the club has transformed its reputation to become a genuine premiership contender.
The Raiders flew to Melbourne on Wednesday to bunker down for their clash against the Storm, with the winner to advance to the grand final.
The Raiders will pocket at least $100,000 prizemoney for their post-season efforts and the Ricky Stuart-led revival has changed the perception of the club.
The Raiders lost their opening finals match to the Cronulla Sharks two weeks ago and the result allowed the NRL to avoid a potentially messy situation of having Canberra play the Cowboys in a Sydney preliminary final.
A preliminary final in Canberra would almost certainly sell out within two days after 47,000 watched games in the past two weeks, but a Raiders-Cowboys battle in Sydney would struggle to draw a crowd.
Officials introduced a rule almost a decade ago stipulating the Raiders, Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons have to play preliminary finals at one of Sydney's main venues instead of at home.
"We'll certainly review it at the end of the year, like we do with a lot of things," Greenberg said.
"We go and assess whether they still have currency in the operating market we're in, and other venues will come into that as well.
"Venues like Newcastle probably needs to be considered as well. We're not closing the book on it all. The Viking clap is absolutely fantastic and it tells me when rugby league supporters support something, they go all in."
The Raiders enjoyed one of the best seasons in the club's history to finish second on the ladder at the end of the regular season.
They scored more points than any other Raiders team, earned their highest ladder position since 1995 and won 17 games for the second-best record since 1982.
It's a world away from some of the club's harder times, which included sacking stars Josh Dugan, Todd Carney and Blake Ferguson as well as coach David Furner's departure.
It emerged earlier this year that there was a feeling in some sections at NRL headquarters that it would be easier if the Raiders "withered on the vine" and weren't part of the competition.
But Greenberg believes the Raiders are the perfect example for clubs – and their supporters – who fear their teams are facing dark moments.
"It's great reward for people here who worked really hard," Greenberg said.
"People like [Raiders chief executive] Don Furner, the board and Ricky. They've had some difficult moments and now they're rewarded with the penultimate game of the season.
"I'm really pleased for the people and the supporters, who voted with their feet for the code. It's a great result for Canberra.
"My message is that clubs have different parts of their evolution. Someone like Parramatta this year had a difficult year and they'll rebuild.
"Canberra have had those difficult moments as well and they haven't been in this position for a long time. I spoke to Ricky and I said to him just do one thing and enjoy the experience of this week. These opportunities are rare."
NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL
Raiders team: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Paul Vaughan, 17. Joe Tapine.
Storm team: 1. Cameron Munster, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. William Chambers, 4. Cheyse Blair, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Blake Green, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Kenny Bromwich, 15. Tim Glasby, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Ben Hampton, 20. Matt White, 21. Felise Kaufusi.
