THE date and venue of the first World Club Challenge to be held on Australian soil in two decades have been confirmed - Saturday 22 February at Allianz Stadium.

The NRL is hoping to sellout the clash between Australian premiers Sydney Roosters and their Super League peers, Wigan Warriors, which will also be broadcast live on Channel Nine.

It's understood Wigan are planning to head Down Under two weeks in advance of the match and possibly play a lead-up game against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

Despite being on home turf at Moore Park, the schedule also creates a tough dilemma for the Roosters - with the inaugural NRL Nines tournament to be staged in Auckland the previous weekend.

All NRL clubs are expected to field at least two marquee players, but most of the Roosters squad will have barely resumed pre-season training after their post-World Cup break.