THE AFL will almost certainly grant St Kilda's "bold" bid to play two home games a season in Wellington in the next two years.

St Kilda chiefs hope to use strong Kiwi interest in the historic Anzac Day clash against Sydney to back its case for a second home game in August in 2014 and 2015.





Teams: Kosi, Dempster back for the Saints



Pre-sales point to a crowd of more than 20,000 tomorrow at Westpac Stadium, a 34,000-seat stadium that is home to Super Rugby's Hurricanes.



Scroll down: A Choice guide to all things Kiwi



AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan said although the Saints' proposal had not yet been approved by the league, the signs were "very promising".



"They've obviously spoken to us about whether we would contemplate two games next year and two games (the year) after," McLachlan said.



"But it's in the context of we'll see how this game goes, and on the crowd and the success of the game, and have a look at it after that.



"It's obviously a very bold play from St Kilda.



"But you certainly get excited when you arrive, as we have today, and there are people in St Kilda and Sydney gear walking the streets and every cab driver wants to talk to you about the game.



"It feels very real."



St Kilda chief executive Michael Nettlefold told the Herald Sun yesterday that benchmarks set by the Wellington Council for continuing support would be met.



Nettlefold urged the AFL to think big.



"It's possible that in 20 or 30 years, you might have a side playing over here," Nettlefold said. "You have seen it work in rugby league, and netball and soccer and rugby union. This is a country which loves its sport and we think it will be taking to Australian rules as well.



"It is three hours door-to-door from Melbourne and Sydney, and there is only a two-hour time difference. It has a very similar travelling profile to Perth."



St Kilda players and coaches arrived yesterday a day later than the Swans.



St Kilda coach Scott Watters knows playing the premier on a small ground in windy conditions may favour Sydney, but he said the support in Wellington would be for St Kilda.



"(Westpac Stadium) is a fantastic ground; it's the same length as the SCG but 17m thinner. It's a cauldron. They call it the Cake Tin for a reason," he said.



Nettlefold said 2500 St Kilda and 1500 Sydney fans were in town.



"Hotels are booked out, Virgin put another flight on to accommodate demand, and there are a lot of Australians in Wellington," he said.



CHOICE GUIDE TO ALL THINGS KIWI



What is a chilly bin? An esky



Judder bar? Speed humo



Is "choice" good or bad? Good



What is paua fritter? A traditional dish using minced paua



What is Australian for "going to the dairy"? Going to the milk bar



What is Speight's? It's a popular and humorously grassy beer of the South Ireland



Who is Richie McCaw? Let us pray: Richie is the 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks captain who rejected a knighthood. In other words, a living god.



What is L&P? Lemon and Paeroa is a popular soft drink combining lemon juice and bubbly mineral water from the town Paeroa.



Who is a bro? Any friend, family member, acquaintance or stranger. Not always gender-specific.



What's sux sux sux? Th number of the beast.



Who is Russell Crowe? A Kiwi.



Neil Finn? As above.



Phar Lap? K.I.W.I

Originally published as Saints to double up in NZ