GREATER Western Sydney fans will gain an early indication of their young team's finals credentials when the Giants host triple reigning premier Hawthorn in their first home game for 2016.

The Giants, determined to qualify for their first finals series after finishing 11th this year, will take on the Hawks in a twilight game at Spotless Stadium in round five on Saturday April 23.

The last time the fledgling franchise hosted Hawthorn – in round six this year – it recorded the best win in its short history, finishing strongly to triumph by 10 points.

"It's fantastic that we get to have our first home match in Sydney against the triple reigning premiers," Giants coach Leon Cameron told The Daily Telegraph.

"With players like (Luke) Hodge, (Cyril) Rioli, (Jarryd) Roughead, (Jordan) Lewis and (Sam) Mitchell, just to name a few, it's the perfect way for us to open our season at Spotless Stadium.

"Hawthorn are clearly one of the greatest teams of the modern era and our fans at Spotless Stadium are sure to turn out in big numbers to see this champion team."

The Giants will kick off their season against Melbourne at the MCG on the afternoon of Saturday March 26.

In round four they will take on fellow finals hopeful Port Adelaide at StarTrack Oval in Canberra at 1.10pm on Sunday April 17.

The Giants expect to be given two other Canberra games against well-supported Victorian clubs. Their round 17 clash with Geelong this year, which the Cats won, was a sell-out.

Among other features of the 2016 AFL fixture, which will be released at 10am on Thursday October 29, the Herald Sun reports:

• The Western Bulldogs' exciting rags-to-riches rise under Luke Beveridge will be rewarded with as many as 11 night games, including three on Friday nights. The last time the Dogs played on a Friday night was in round 10, 2012.

• Geelong will host as many as four night games at their Simonds Stadium headquarters after being given just one this year.

• Essendon, under new coach John Worsfold, will face just one top-eight team twice, that being Richmond. 

• If North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey is to break Michael Tuck's league games record, he will be given every chance to do it in front of the Kangaroos faithful, with the 'Roos scheduled to play several consecutive games in Melbourne late in the season.