Close to 1000 tickets have been pre-sold for the night match, a prelude to the round 1 Storm-Raiders clash at Canberra Stadium on March 3.

Canberra yesterday named a 30-man squad for the trial, including stars Josh Dugan, Joel Thompson, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Travis Waddell.

But Canberra will be without Jarrod Croker (knee), Nathan Massey (Achilles), Drury Low (hamstring) and Haydon Hodge (knee), while David Shillington could miss with an infected elbow.

Storm has named a 25-man squad, with no Cameron Smith (shoulder), Cooper Cronk (rested) or Billy Slater (collarbone), but Ryan Hoffman, Will Chambers, Ryan Hinchliffe, Anthony Quinn and Sika Manu.

The game starts at 7pm, with the NYC game between Storm and Raiders to start at 4.45pm.

“Tickets are selling really well but we encourage people to pre-purchase,” events team leader at Albury Council Ros Walls said.

“We are hoping for around 3000.

“We are really excited.

“It makes it so much better with them staying here.

“Raiders arrive Thursday and I think Storm arrive Friday.”

Tickets are $20 for an adult, $15 for concession, $10 children and $50 for a family of four and can be purchased at the gate or from the Albury Entertainment Centre.

It will be the first NRL match at the venue since Country defeated City 18-12 in front of 8000 fans last May.