Northern Territory Cricket is using the exposure gained from having David Warner playing in its Twenty20 competition to strengthen its case for staging an international match featuring the Australian men's team.

Warner flew to Darwin on Thursday in preparation for his first game on Australian soil since being handed his 12-month suspension for ball tampering.

David Warner will play in Darwin this weekend. Credit:Rachel Olding

The former vice-captain will pad up for City Cyclones on Saturday morning before locking horns with Cameron Bancroft's team Desert Blaze the following day.

Bancroft was banned for nine months after agreeing to Warner's plan to scuff up the ball with sandpaper in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.