An artist's impression of the Perth Stadium, due to open in early 2018. A one-day international between Australia and England on January 28 will be the first sporting event to be played out of the multi-purpose facility, however the NRL will be the first of the football codes to stage a match at the 60,000-seat venue. "Fans will get two premiership matches in a blockbuster event at incredible value," chief executive Todd Greenberg said. "I'd like to thank both the government of Western Australia and Tourism WA for their strong desire to showcase rugby league on this stage as well as the two clubs for embracing the concept." While the NRL is celebrating a victory against the AFL, the finals schedule released by their rivals on Monday has left the NRL with a nightmarish task of trying to avoid clashes and maximise crowd attendance in the opening week of their finals series.

New ground: The Canterbury Bulldogs will open the 2018 NRL season in Perth. Credit:AAP Fairfax Media understands the NRL had pencilled in minor premiers Melbourne to play on the Friday night of the first week of the finals. However, the AFL has ruined those plans by scheduling the all-Melbourne blockbuster between Geelong and Richmond at the MCG on that night. The AFL, which has the luxury of planning ahead of the NRL because teams are given a week off before the finals, has also scheduled the Sydney Swans to play Essendon at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon. Double trouble: Cronulla's John Morris celebrates victory in a controversial finals clash in 2013, the last time there was a double-header in Sydney. Credit:Brendan Esposito The decision to play the Swans game at Moore Park on Saturday will deny the NRL the chance to play a double-header at Allianz Stadium the same day, which is now likely to force Cronulla and/or Manly (if they beat Penrith this weekend) to play their home final at ANZ Stadium.

The NRL plays matches at 6pm and 8pm on Saturday, but the 4.30pm start for the Swans game means Allianz Stadium will be out of action considering the transport and traffic issues that will arise from having two major crowd-drawing events on at the same time in the same precinct. Try scoring machine: NRL top try-scorer Alex Johnston will be a highlight for fans in Perth. Credit:AAP While Melbourne would prefer to play their home final at AAMI Park on Saturday to give themselves a seven-day turnaround, the NRL is leaning towards scheduling the Storm in a potential blockbuster against Parramatta on Sunday afternoon and hosting a double-header at ANZ Stadium on Saturday. The only dilemma with scheduling the Storm on a Sunday is the fact they will have to back up just six days later if they lose the match – a scenario the NRL is keen to avoid imposing on a team that has comfortably wrapped up the minor premiership. If all the favourites win in the final round of the regular season this weekend, the Roosters, Sharks and Sea Eagles will all earn the right to host home finals. All three clubs would prefer to play at Allianz Stadium, but the clash with the AFL means it's likely at least one team will have to play at Homebush.

The Panthers, who on Sunday missed the opportunity to push for a top-four finish, now find themselves fighting to keep their season alive against Manly on Saturday. The winner will be guaranteed a home final. They have been dealt a huge blow with fullback Dylan Edwards ruled out for three weeks with a medial ligament injury, compounded by the news skipper Matt Moylan won't be fit to return from a hamstring injury until at least the first week of the finals. While Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is the likely candidate to slot in at fullback to replace the injured Edwards, winger Josh Mansour has put his hand up to move to the back. "Oh yeah, if I get the call-up I would [love to]," Mansour said. "I have played fullback before so if the opportunity came up, 100 per cent I would. At the end of the day it's the coaching staff's decision. If Hook [coach Anthony Griffin] asks me, I'll definitely say I'm confident and would love to help the team. But who knows what will happen in team selections.

"The last time I played fullback was my debut year here at Penrith five years ago under Ivan [Cleary]. I was playing fullback at Windsor, then made my debut on the wing, but a few games at the end of the year I played fullback. [My passing] has gotten much better. I'm confident in that as well." SCENARIO 1 FRIDAY: Sydney Roosters (2nd) v Brisbane Broncos (3rd) at Allianz Stadium

SATURDAY: Cronulla Sharks (5th) v Penrith Panthers (8th) at ANZ Stadium (double-header)

SATURDAY: Manly Sea Eagles (6th) v St George Illawarra (7th) at ANZ Stadium (double-header)

SUNDAY: Melbourne Storm (1st) v Parramatta Eels (4th) at AAMI Park Loading

SCENARIO 2 FRIDAY: Sydney Roosters (2nd) v Brisbane Broncos (3rd) at Allianz Stadium

SATURDAY: Manly Sea Eagles (6th) v St George Illawarra (7th) at ANZ Stadium

SATURDAY: Melbourne Storm (1st) v Parramatta Eels (4th) at AAMI Park

SUNDAY: Cronulla Sharks (5th) v Penrith Panthers (8th) at Allianz Stadium