“I am pleased to announce the Football Federation of Australia has approved a request from Adelaide United to transfer its match versus Sydney FC from Hindmarsh Stadium to Adelaide Oval,” said Ciccarello.

“United is delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our event to a wider audience in the heart of Adelaide at one of the most beautiful and greatest sporting venues in Australia.”

The Reds are expecting a bumper crowd of 20,000 plus for the first ever Hyundai A-League match to be played at the ground in what could become an annual occurrence.

“Certainly with all the holiday crowds and shopping crowds in Adelaide we expect we’re going to get a crowd of 20,000 plus,” said Ciccarello. "This is about showcasing our event to a wider audience so they can experience and enjoy our football.

“We’ll have to wait and see. We’re obviously going to be very positive and aggressive in our marketing and promotion.”

The club fended off concerns about the playing surface with a heavy watering regime to be implemented immediately after the Ford Ranger One Day Cup cricket match just five days before kick off.

Several meetings have recently taken place between Adelaide United, the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) and Les Burdett who will be in charge of overseeing the pitch preparation.

“Les has been involved in our football going back to the Sydney Olympics when we had seven teams visit Adelaide,” said the Reds CEO.

“He was involved in over sighting requirements for Hindmarsh Stadium as well as the training grounds. Les knows exactly what is required for our team to be able to adequately take to that pitch.”

The coaching staff will also be meeting with Les Burdett in the coming weeks to ensure enough training time is secured and are confident the ground will be in good shape.

United head coach Aurelio Vidmar was particularly unfazed at switching locations and is excited at the prospect of taking on Sydney FC at the iconic South Australian venue.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the boys to hopefully play in front of a much bigger crowd,” he said. “Adelaide versus Sydney with Kossie back there as well I’m sure it’s going to be a big game,” Vidmar added.

The match will mark the first visit back to Adelaide of former Reds coach John Kosmina in what is sure to be a fiery welcome.

“They’re one of our fiercest rivals Sydney,” added Sam Ciccarello. “We’d expect that there will always be a big crowd turn up to a match against Sydney Football Club and I guess it’s a nice delicious irony that Kosmina returns to Adelaide for that match.”