Should Fremantle win against Adelaide this Friday night it will play a twilight Preliminary Final at the MCG against Hawthorn the following Saturday.

The match would bounce down at 3.15pm (WST) and be telecast live into Perth on Seven and Fox Footy.

The AFL usually reserves the Friday night slot for the highest ranked side remaining in the finals, which is Hawthorn, to give it maximum advantage in regards to rest time before the Grand Final.

But the NRL finals are set down for Saturday night at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, the venue the Swans will play their Preliminary Final at.

That’s forced the AFL to move Hawthorn’s prelim to the Saturday.

The AFL said the Hawks’ Preliminary Final had been programmed as a twilight game at the MCG to maximise both the match-day and television audience on the Seven Network and Fox Footy, as well as ensuring that the visiting team would be able to return to its home state that night, to prepare for the Grand Final, should either Adelaide / Fremantle qualify.

The AFL has worked since the 2005 season to ensure that all preliminary finalists are able to return to their home state by the Saturday night before the Grand Final.

The fixture for week three of the 2012 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be as follows (all times are local):

Friday 21 September
Second Preliminary Final: Sydney Swans v Winner Collingwood/West Coast at ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm

Saturday 22 September
First Preliminary Final: Hawthorn v Winner Adelaide Crows/Fremantle at the MCG, 5.15pm