PORT ADELAIDE’s pre-season game in Whyalla has been described as a “huge win for Whyalla” which will put the regional city “on the map”.

The Power will host the Western Bulldogs at Whyalla’s Bennett Oval, which will be redeveloped ahead of the match.

The game on Saturday 7 March at 3:40pm will on Fox Footy and the AFL Live app with ticketing details to be released soon.

When announcing a five-year partnership with Port Adelaide in February, its Major Sponsor GFG through its Executive Chairman Sanjeev Gupta, said he hoped to see an AFL game being played in Whyalla, where GFG runs the local steelworks.

He said it would be a proud moment for his family to see a team it sponsored playing a game in a city which means so much to them.

He thanked the club for committing to the Whyalla match and the City of Whyalla for moving so swiftly to redevelop Bennett Oval.

“Since our purchase of the Whyalla operations several years ago, I’ve stated the vital importance of the community growing and developing alongside our operations,” Mr Gupta said.

“My family’s partnership with Port Adelaide will hopefully play a key role in that, helping put Whyalla on the map through this game – and possibly more to come – as well as resulting in Whyalla City Council upgrading their facilities to suit this level of competition.

“World-class facilities and sporting attractions such as this will all assist in making Whyalla a destination of choice – both occupationally and recreationally – for people from across the globe.”

There has only been one AFL fixture in the Upper Spencer Gulf City with Adelaide playing a pre-season game there in the late 90s.

It’ll be the first time Port Adelaide plays an AFL game in Whyalla and it comes in the club’s 150^th anniversary year.

Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin thanked Mr Gupta and Port Adelaide for paving the way for the history-making match, describing it as an amazing opportunity for the city.

“When Mr Gupta signed his private sponsorship with Port Adelaide, he said Whyalla was a prime consideration in the deal and a Power match in our city was a key component,” Mayor McLaughlin said.

“It is a huge win for Whyalla as Mr Gupta and Port Adelaide have delivered on this part of the deal.

“Our redeveloped Bennett Oval is going to host an AFL match and the nation is going to see Whyalla in its full glory.

“We couldn’t be more excited.”