Everything is set up to put Ballarat in winning form for hosting duties. If we can capitalise on this, there is a wealth of opportunity for this city to tap into to bring to Mars and, ultimately, right into western Victoria.

Western United is the first major league franchise, outside Western Bulldogs' AFL ventures, to deliver an in-season match on our turf. Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels will stake their fully-fledged match claim on Mars in February.

The new A-League club opened with a bang in a one-nil win against Wellington Phoenix, which they will host for an historic arrival in Ballarat. Western United have been gathering momentum, and fans, as they enter the clash ranked third in the A-League and on a three-game winning streak.

Phoenix wants another chance at Western United and lands in Ballarat on a six-game winning streak.

Western United's star striker Besart Berisha, the A-League's all-time leading goal scorer, told The Courier this week it would be "really special" to score in Ballarat. Berisha said he loved to celebrate in all different stadiums, with all different fans, and he was keen to test what Ballarat had to offer.

The Phoenix squad features English Premier League talent in Ulises Davila, the Mexican international with seven goals to his name this A-League season.

Davila 41 total shots (including blocks) this A-League campaign, more than any other player.

This billing is a more than enticing scenario to temporarily put away the left-over Christmas ham and venture out for the night.

When it comes to timing, most of us in town are still lolling about post-Christmas, maybe starting to think about plans for New Year's or setting up camp down the coast at the beach.

For those of us working through the festive period, there is nothing better than breaking out of the office and enjoying a relaxed summer evening with others already in a jolly mood.

We should be able to serve up a roaring crowd.

There are a flocks of fans set to travel from Western United's bases in Geelong and outer-west metropolitan suburbs. But Western United is confident Ballarat fans will show up in force - at least many who will be prepared to give the green and blacks a go.

Geelong's Kardinia Park stadium has been averaging 5000 to 6000-strong crowds to pre-Christmas Western United games (excepting bouts against Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City).

Numbers were down in the Cattery for an in-season Melbourne Renegades Big Bash League cricket match late last week, most likely due to the hectic time of year and school still finishing up.

We should be ready and able.

Not to mention, a hot summer's night will be great to showcase a different side to Ballarat in major league football - a stark contrast to AFL premiership season matches on Mars at the height of winter.

Western United has dabbled a little in Ballarat for pre-season hit-outs. The club's chief Chris Pehlivanis told The Courier he liked what this city had to offer.

This will be the first of four A-League bouts in Ballarat this summer and Pehlivanis said the club was not going away once its Tarneit home was complete.

Western United is committed to adopting Ballarat the right way.

The club's foundations are in building a club that could thrive in Melbourne's west, tapping into the region's immigrant population and area growth. This extends to Geelong.

Now this extends to Ballarat.

This city has a strong football culture. This city has a record for hosting major sporting events, particularly in the modern era with AFL and even the in-season Women's National Basketball League match earlier this month.

And this city has played host to international soccer.

Bahrain set up camp at Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility five years ago - even one of the nation's princes was in town. The visit included a friendly against Jordan in an Asia Cup warm-up.

The Matildas played New Zealand in a women's international at the same venue in 2016.

Australia's best cyclists will be back battling on our roads within the fortnight. So, in a traditionally quiet time about town, Western United's timing could not be better to activate Ballarat.

Western United v Wellington Phoenix at Mars Stadium, Saturday 5pm.

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