The GWS Giants are set for an explosive return to Canberra next year when they play the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval, which also puts them on a collision course with NRL and Super Rugby.
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The Canberra Times can reveal the Giants will play the Bulldogs in a round-three showdown in the capital in a Friday night fixture on April 3.
It's understood the AFL gave the Giants just one option for a home Friday night match in 2020 with officials choosing to shift the game to Canberra because of the club's strong supporter base.
But it also puts the Giants head to head with the Canberra Raiders, who will play the Manly Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium on the same night before the ACT Brumbies play against the Wellington Hurricanes on the Saturday.
The AFL will publish its full fixture on Thursday, with the Giants to play two more games at Manuka Oval as per a 10-year deal with the ACT government.
The Giants and Bulldogs have played against each other in Canberra six times since 2012, the most capital exposure for any of the Giants' rivals.
The Giants have committed to bring as many different teams to Canberra over the length of their deal to play at Manuka Oval, with the Brisbane Lions, Carlton and West Coast Eagles the only clubs yet to visit the city.
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It is hoped one of those three will be on the fixture list for this season and Canberra could get more games in April while the Giants' Homebush base is out of action during the Easter Show.
The Giants averaged almost 12,000 people per game to their Canberra fixtures last season and have played two Friday night matches in the capital in the past three years.
Canberra, however, will miss out on hosting a pre-season or AFLW match because the ground is being used to host women's Twenty20 World Cup games in February.
The Giants and Bulldogs have built a strong rivalry in recent years, including GWS knocking the Bulldogs out of the finals before charging into the club's inaugural grand final appearance.
That match ended in controversy, with Toby Greene charged with making contact to the face of Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli. Greene escaped a ban and was free to play the following week.
Bontempelli was involved in an incident against the Giants earlier in the season, which left Nick Haynes with a fracture in his voice box.
CAPITAL COLLISION
April 3: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval, 7.50pm.
April 3: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, 8.05pm.
April 4: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm