The ACT Government and Cricket ACT are taking the high ground in response to comments from former Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison, who slammed Canberra officials as "fat-cat bureaucrats".

All eyes will be on Hobart to see whether the Tasmanian public will accept the call to arms for the opening day of the first Test between Australia and the West Indies, starting Thursday.

After initial estimates last week of fewer than 10,000 people across the five days, officials are now expecting a crowd of up to 22,000 to show Hobart deserves to remain on the Test calendar.

That includes having up to 2500 schoolchildren bused to the ground to inflate the figures for the first two days.

In contrast, Fairfax Media understands a Test match in Canberra would be tipped to attract 35,000, including a sell-out on the opening day.

Cricket ACT would also suspend club cricket for the weekend of a Test to ensure as many people as possible could attend.

The preferred model would be for Canberra, Hobart and possibly a third regional centre, such as Geelong or Coffs Harbour, to host the sixth Test match of the summer on a rotational basis.

No matter what the location, CA is sold on the idea of day-night Test matches after the roaring ratings and attendance success of the debut of the pink ball at the Adelaide Oval last week.

CA executive general manager Ben Amarfio said the door was open for any future Tests, apart from the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the Sydney Test, to be held under lights.

"If we were to play any more Tests, regardless of whether we play them in Canberra or Hobart ... in non-school holiday time we've got to be serious about it," Amarfio told Sky Sports Radio.

"They've got to be day-nighters so people can watch from a TV and crowd perspective."

While Cricket Tasmania administrators believe the crowd figure could swell to 22,000 at the venue's first Test since 2012, Canberra's Manuka Oval continues to attract healthy crowds.

Since the ground was redeveloped with the addition of lights at the start of 2013, 86,958 people have attended the nine elite games held at the ground at an average of 9662 per game.

That includes two one-day internationals involving Australia, three World Cup games, three Prime Minister XI games and this year's Big Bash League final.

"We've played a fair bit of international cricket in Canberra over the past few years and the great thing about the Canberra crowd is that they are very supportive," Amarfio said.

"They fill the grounds whether it be a PM's match or it's been Afghanistan vs Bangladesh [during this year's World Cup], I think we had 13,000 at that."

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr refused to be drawn into Harrison's comments where he said Canberra was going against the spirit of the "One Team" policy by bidding for cricket fixtures.

"The ACT cricket community has demonstrated a desire to see more cricket content in Canberra," Barr said.

"We would be happy to talk further with Cricket Australia should they wish to host a Test match in Canberra."

The ACT Government has previously said it would consider trading its one-day international game for a Test match with Hobart.

The Government has a four-year deal with Cricket Australia to host an ODI every summer until 2019.

Canberra crowds

7346: October 23, 2015: PM's XI v New Zealand

8831: March 3, 2015: Ireland v South Africa

5544: February 24, 2015: West Indies v Zimbabwe

10,972: February 18, 2015: Afghanistan v Bangladesh

11,741: January 28, 2015: Big Bash League final

8077: January 14, 2015: PM's XI v England

10,583: November 19, 2014: Australia v South Africa

12,316: January 14, 2014: PM's XI v England

11,548: February 6, 2013: Australia v West Indies

Total: 86,958

Average: 9662