Essendon and Geelong will have their final hit-outs of the AFL pre-season at the QEO from 4.10pm on Sunday in what’s a chance to showcase Bendigo Australia-wide given the game will be also broadcast live on Fox Footy.

“I couldn’t guess exactly how many hours have gone into getting the QEO surface ready, but there has been a fairly intensive preparation period,” Barbetti, the City of Greater Bendigo team leader for sports fields, said on Wednesday.

“Straight after the East Asia Pacific cricket matches (last month) we’ve top-dressed and over-sown the ground and that ryegrass is just germinating now, so that will provide our color for the winter and some additional color for this Sunday.

“The AFL has had a regime of inspections… there has been three already that started in December when the game was announced.

“The last inspection was three weeks ago and the report back was really positive and that the ground was in excellent condition.

"Our crew have done a fantastic job and they really enjoy the chance to present the ground in the best condition it can be to have elite sport played on it, and also for visitors to the city.

“No doubt the QEO will do Bendigo proud this Sunday. We don’t get these games every year, so when we do we like to get it looking as good as can be, which it will be.”

The QEO was again looking like a football ground on Wednesday with the re-installation of the goalposts.

However, following Sunday’s match between the Bombers and Cats works will be under way again to revert the QEO back to a cricket venue ahead of the BDCA grand final on March 25-26.

The squads for Sunday’s game will be announced on Thursday.

Essendon has already said it will be close to full strength.