The Sydney derby is set to be moved from the first round of the A-League season despite its successful trial last year and replaced by a grand final replay as the marquee fixture on the opening weekend.

Fairfax Media understands Football Federation Australia will unveil the draw for the 2017-18 A-League season this week. A draft schedule has the first contest between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers to be played at Allianz Stadium in round three.

Despite a successful round one derby at ANZ Stadium last year, which set a record attendance for a domestic football game in Australia, the FFA indicated its desire to push the key fixture further back to maintain momentum after the season's big kick-off.

The first Sydney derby will be a home match for the Sky Blues and will likely be the first clash between the two rivals to be televised live on free-to-air. The Saturday night fixture is set to be screened on Channel Ten or its subsidiary digital channels after the network came on board as a partner to the primary broadcaster, Fox Sports.