FRIDAY night's clash between Collingwood and Essendon could rival Anzac Day attendances with only a limited number of tickets available in the AFL reserve and public sections of the MCG.

The AFL released a statement on Wednesday afternoon encouraging fans who wished to attend the game to purchase a ticket in advance.

Tickets are available through Ticketek; by phone on 132 849, from outlets or online at ticketek.com.au.

Large queues are also expected at the gates, which will open at 5.30pm on Friday evening.

The MCC members reserve will open at 5pm.

A crowd of 84,829 watched Essendon make a late surge to beat Collingwood by five points in round five.

Both sides have come off strong wins ahead of this clash – Collingwood over Fremantle and Essendon over Carlton – and sit fourth and seventh on the AFL ladder respectively.

The biggest home-and-away attendance for a Pies-Bombers game is 94,825, which was set on Anzac Day 1994 and is the second-largest figure for a regular season match in the history of the game.