Nights he can pull on a long-sleeve jumper in a bid to escape arctic conditions in Canberra - something his Hawthorn rivals can't do.

The GWS Giants are bracing for ice cold temperatures when they host the Hawks at Manuka Oval on Friday night.

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting a top of six degrees with a 90 per cent chance of rain and the possibility of a thunderstorm engulfing the capital.

But the temperatures will plummet even further with an expected temperature of three degrees come the opening bounce at 7.50pm.

Couple that with the chance of snow on the hills surrounding Canberra and 35 to 55km/h winds late in the day and we've got a frosty forecast on our hands.

It's enough to have Greene reaching for the long sleeve jumper, but whether his Hawks counterparts can do the same remains to be seen.

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Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has long been opposed to his players wearing long-sleeved guernseys. He is so firmly opposed that short-sleeved jumpers have become something of a tradition.

Hawks wingman Isaac Smith showed his commitment to the cause when he stripped down to his budgies during the club's training run at Manuka Oval on Thursday.

Fair preparation for a night so fresh Greene is struggling to remember playing in lower temperatures.

"Nah, this would be the coldest I reckon," Greene said.

"It should be good fun to play on Friday night down there. I'm getting ready for the cold.

"By night time it's not going to be too warm. It'll be a good experience. I'll probably get the long sleeves out I reckon."

Greene admits he would rather spend the bulk of his time in the forward line on any given day despite a stellar run of form in his recent shift to the midfield.

He has been averaging 31 disposals per game as the Giants wait on a host of key on-ballers to make their return to the park.

But he might nudge Giants coach Leon Cameron and ask for another lengthy stint in the midfield come Friday night - because in there "at least you're staying warm".

Not since North Melbourne faced Richmond in Hobart three years ago have we seen such cold conditions forecast during an AFL game.

But the three-degree night wasn't enough to ward off hearty football supporters with 17,844 rugging up and charging through the gates.

While the temperatures won't be too foreign to Canberra football fans, they will be for a handful of those they're flocking to see.

Giants rookie Bobby Hill admits he "never would have thought" he would be lacing up the boots on a night so cold.

Considering he grew up in Northam in Western Australia, that's probably fair enough.

But the emerging star is determined to put the cold snap aside to focus on the Giants' bid to storm into the AFL's top four.

"That's footy and that's winter. I just can't wait to get back in there," Hill said.

"Coming into a Friday night game, it might be windy, raining and whatnot.

"But I'm just going to go out there and take it as my normal game and hopefully play some good footy."

AFL ROUND 21

Friday: GWS Giants v Hawthorn Hawks at Manuka Oval, 7.50pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.