Port Adelaide will host the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, the AFL has confirmed.

The match will also serve as the first premiership season match for the newly-developed Adelaide Oval and is expected to take place in late March, but not necessarily in the opening round of the season.

The League’s media relations manager tweeted confirmation of the decision on Friday morning, saying the AFL elected to allocate hosting rights to the Power in order to maximise Showdown attendances in both derbies.

Guarantee your place at the first game at the newly-developed Adelaide Oval by becoming an 11-game reserved seat member here








The AFL's GM Broadcasting, Scheduling and Major Projects Simon Lethlean said the League wanted the first game at the newly developed city stadium to be a match between South Australia's two elite teams.

"It was the AFL's view that both SA teams must play in the first match at Adelaide Oval after the exceptional redevelopment work undertaken by the South Australian government," he said.

"The AFL has determined that Port Adelaide should host the game, so as to maximise attendances across both Showdown matches in the 2014 premiership season."

The Power played the first AFL match at Adelaide Oval in the final game of the 2011 season.

The Oval was its home ground in the SANFL during 1975 and 1976 and the site of 23 of its state league premiership victories.