ALICE Springs will host its first AFL match for premiership points in 2014.
 
It will be one of two games held in the Northern Territory in next year's home and away season with the other to be played at Darwin's TIO Stadium.

Early start and two byes highlight season fixture change
 
Melbourne will be involved in both games after coming to a new arrangement with the Northern Territory Government on Wednesday.

The Demons will play Port Adelaide in round 11 at Alice Springs' Traeger Park, which will be part of the AFL's Indigenous Round.
 
They will then play Fremantle in round 16 at TIO Stadium.
 
The club is hoping to build a relationship with the Northern Territory and find a new audience, using Hawthorn's arrangement with Tasmania as a model.

Next month's Chairman's XI versus England cricket match at Traeger Park will provide the venue with a trial run ahead of its debut home and away AFL match. 
 
AFL.com.au understands the match, which is hoping to attract English supporters in Australia for the Ashes series, will be used as a dress rehearsal for the home and away game.
 
Traeger Park has hosted NAB Cup games before, as well as this year's Indigenous All Stars clash against Richmond in February.
 
The Chairman's XI-England match is expected to produce a more accurate representation of corporate and facility requirements for an AFL game for premiership points.
 
The Alice Springs venue will also host a pre-season game involving the Demons and another Victorian-based club.
 
Darwin's TIO Stadium has hosted premiership games each season since 2004. 
 
Last year, the Western Bulldogs played Port Adelaide in round 10 in Darwin before Melbourne hosted the Brisbane Lions in round 17.
 
The Power have been involved in football in the Territory every season since 2008 as well as playing in games in 2004 and 2006, and have a strong support base in the region.
 
The Lions are already expected to play a Victorian team in another state with a round one clash with Hawthorn slated for Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
 
Given the Lions have also been strongly linked to the Anzac Day clash with St Kilda in Wellington, it is unlikely they will head back to the Territory to play the Demons in 2014 if they head across the Tasman in April.
 
The Bulldogs aren't expected to return to the Top End next season after playing nine games there since 2004.
 
Instead, they are discussing the possibility of replacing Richmond in the game held in Cairns.
 
It is believed Gold Coast will play in the game at Cazaly's Stadium for the fourth consecutive year.
 
The 2014 fixture remains in draft form and is subject to change up until its official launch on October 31, with the AFL not commenting before then.
 
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan