A FRIDAY night Collingwood-Hawthorn blockbuster looms as the likely opener to the final round of the home and away season.
Club bosses and the MCG are yet to be informed, but its understood final discussions are underway between the broadcasters Channel 7, Foxtel and the AFL as to the make up of round 23.
A Pies-Hawks showdown is most likely for a number of reasons, including giving teams higher on the ladder a longer break heading into the finals.
Collingwood has five weeks straight of games on pay television, meaning Channel 7 is expected to be keen to get the AFL's biggest club back on its screens before the home and away season is out.
The clash between Fremantle and Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium is another critical game, but the AFL would be reluctant to fixture the Dockers on the Friday night given they play five days earlier in Brisbane.
It's also unlikely Channel 7 would want a Friday night game involving two non-Victorian teams.
The game between Carlton and Essendon at the MCG could determine whether the Bombers secure a finals berth, and is a contender for the Saturday night time-slot.
The League said it wasn't in a position to confirm plans as yet.
"We will be considering the options available over the next week or so," an AFL spokesman said.
With such a focus on crowd numbers so far in 2014, the AFL will no doubt be looking to maximise attendances for the final round of the home and away season.
The AFL introduced a floating fixture for the last round to allow more flexibility when it comes to scheduling the first week of finals.
Round 23 matches
Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval
Sydney Swans v Richmond, ANZ Stadium
North Melbourne v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney, Etihad Stadium
Carlton v Essendon, MCG
Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG
Gold Coast v West Coast, Metricon Stadium
Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Patersons Stadium
Geelong v Brisbane Lions, Simonds Stadium
