The AFL says it is closing in on a new deal for Melbourne to continue playing home matches in the Northern Territory.
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The Demons' three-year agreement expires this season, with the first of their two matches this year against Port Adelaide at Traeger Park in Alice Springs on Saturday night. They also host Fremantle in Darwin in round 16.
AFL game and market development manager Simon Lethlean said the league, Northern Territory Government and the Demons were "pretty close to finalising" a deal.
The Demons are keen to extend the deal for at least another two years.
Northern Territory minister for sport and recreation Nathan Barrett said negotiations were continuing.
"Melbourne is responsible for the delivery of various community programs involving their star players to develop the sport in the Territory. The Demons are going great and are on the fringe of the top eight after their big win over Brisbane on the weekend and we look forward to hosting them this year," he said.
"The NT Government is in constant communication with the AFL and negotiations are ongoing. Our focus right now is on welcoming the Demons to the Northern Territory for two upcoming games starting against Port Adelaide in Alice Springs this weekend and then against Fremantle Dockers in Darwin.
"We are working hard with our stakeholders to ensure those games are both very successful for footy fans and participants right across the Territory."
Traeger Park staged its first game for premiership points in 2014 – and the attendance that day of 5655 remains the highest.
But with the developing Demons outside of the top eight only on percentage, and Port Adelaide a game behind, officials hope to break that attendance record this weekend.
Demons hardman Tomas Bugg, having enjoyed 31 disposals against the Lions on Sunday, said he and his teammates would prepare to face a Power unit at their best.
"On their own merits, [the Power] have been inconsistent, but their best is up there with the best, so that's what we're going to prepare for this week. We'll just go with our strong mindset," he said on Monday.
"We're training a little bit earlier this week. We're flying out Thursday and it'll be a recovery-based week, but we still want to get a solid training session in before we play Port."
