Carrara has been given the all-clear to make its return as an AFL venue where it will host not only two home and away matches this season, but also the opening game of the NAB Cup in just over a week.

The Brisbane Lions, who used the ground for 61 home matches between 1987-92 in the days when they were known as the Brisbane Bears, will take on Essendon on Friday February 24 in the opening game of the pre-season competition.

The Gold Coast venue will also host the round three clash between Melbourne and Adelaide, plus the round seven game between Hawthorn and Brisbane as well as a NAB Challenge match - played between teams which have been knocked out of the NAB Cup - on March 11.

Some $3 million has been spent by the AFL and the Gold Coast City Council to bring the venue back to AFL standard with the league giving the ground the all-clear following an inspection this week.

The AFL's manager of major projects, Simon Gorr said Carrara will now have some of the best facilities in the AFL.

"The (dressing) rooms were okay for the early 90's, but they have now been bought up to the standards we expect in 2006 with the showers, toilets, lockers and first aid rooms all renovated," Gorr told afl.com.au.

"The only thing that won't be ready for the NAB Cup will be one of the indoor warm-up areas, but one of the teams will have the option of either doing their warm-up on the ground or an indoor basketball stadium, which is only about 30 metres away."

Gorr said the playing surface had also been re-laid with fantastic results.

"The surface is superb and we believe it will be one of the best in the AFL."

New coaches' boxes - located right on the wing - have also been built along with new interchange dug-outs while media and broadcasting facilities have also been revamped.

However, to spectators and those watching the games on television, the ground will look remarkably similar to the days of the Brisbane Bears with only one new stand having been built since the ground last hosted league matches in 1992.

"The capacity will be a touch under 16,000 and of those there will be about 5,500 seated with the rest standing," Gorr said.

Gorr said the AFL was thrilled to be bringing football back to the Gold Coast, an area in which the league believes there is enormous scope to attract new supporters.

"Interest in the AFL in the area is already very, very high," he said, with thousands of expat Victorians living on the Gold Coast.

"Within the Gold Coast City Council area alone there are 470,000 people and there are around one million people who live within a one hour drive of the ground, so we are very excited to be bringing football back to the region."