Blacktown mayor Alan Pendleton wants Sunday’s AFL match to be the first of many in his region.

The smart money says he may not get his wish.

Greater Western Sydney will play their first premiership match in Blacktown on the weekend, with no more scheduled for the year and no deal in place for further games next season.

GWS, who train and have been based in Blacktown since inception, will instead play predominantly at Sydney Showground.

The Giants will first host at Skoda in round nine, when the stadium’s $65m redevelopment – funded largely by the AFL and the state government – is complete.

It’s a venue understood to have better profit margins than Blacktown.

Fixturing discussions between the league and the club will occur over the next month, with GWS chief executive David Matthews saying the weekend will act as a litmus test of sorts.

“At the moment the four-point game on Sunday is largely because Skoda Stadium is not ready, it’s given us the opportunity to play one (in Blacktown), Matthews said on Wednesday ahead of the clash with West Coast.

“If it’s a success, then Blacktown and the Giants will sit down with the AFL and say what’s possible in the future.

“Certainly it wouldn’t be more than a game a year, but it might well be a game if there’s – we’re interested to see how the fans respond on Sunday – does it sell out?”

Blacktown has hosted pre-season clashes before, but never a premiership match.

“We’re a little bit limited in terms of corporate facilities and media facilities and other things,” Matthews said.

“So for the city of Blacktown to potentially host more of these (premiership) games, I think we need – we’re working with them on their masterplan for the overall venue.”

The club had sold approximately 6,500 tickets to the 10,000-capacity venue on Wednesday.

Pendleton has high hopes of what Blacktown has to offer the AFL.

“Blacktown now is an international city and it’s been recognised as that through the AFL,” he said.

“We are the demographic centre of the Sydney region … we are a very thriving, modern city.

“The opportunities are enormous.”