The Maitland Magpies historic round of 32 FFA Cup tie will be held at the Maitland Sportsground on Wednesday, July 31.
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The date and venue were confirmed by Northern NSW Football on Friday, but unfortunately it will not be the live telecast game on Foxtel.
However, there will be live crosses to the venue during the game for updates.
Details on the cost of lighting for the venue are still to be finalised. It will cost up to $16,000 to bring in additional lighting to lift the sportsground to the required 500 lux level.
Magpies president Ray Watkins said negotiations had been positive and it was an exciting to announce that the game would be at Maitland's new showcase sportsground.
"We are still negotiating with the council over the cost of the venue hire and the cost of the additional floodlighting facility, but we saw it as vitally important that the game be held in Maitland so we gave our submission to the FFA on the basis that it be held in Maitland based on further negotiations with council staff," Watkins said.
"We have a further meeting with them during this week to continue those negotiations.
"From the reports and feedback we are getting back from the community and even the Newcastle community there is a groundswell of support for Maitland and to hold the game within the Maitland region is the only sensible option."
Maitland are making their debut in the FFA Cup national stage this season but have been drawn against a Mariners side that have already been beaten by Member Federation clubs on two occasions in years prior.
A roar went across the lounge at The George Tavern on Wednesday night when it was revealed the Maitland would play Central Coast Mariners in the FFA Cup round of 32.
The Maitland FC players and supporters had gathered together to watch the draw on Fox Sports and everything they hoped for was delivered.
"The buzz around the club is electric. When we got drawn a cheer went up around the whole pub," Magpies coach Mick Bolch said.
"Everyone is really excited about it.
"We'll give it a red-hot crack and back ourselves but at the end of the day being realisitic they're an A-League side, a bunch of professional footballers, and we're a bunch of part-timers who train once or twice a week and all have full-time jobs.
"We're the underdogs going into it, it's the first time we've been into this stage of the Cup, but I'm sure we'll give a good account of the club and a good account of the region.
"We're pushing really hard for the Maitland Sportsground. Last night among all the hype we had a couple of Maitland City councillors there at the draw and they said they were definitely behind us playing there.
"It will cost at least $16,000 in hiring temporary lighting to bring the lighting at the Maitland Sportsground up to the required level of 500 lux to host a live telecast of the night game."
Bolch said when it became apparent that Maitland was among the four state league teams to draw an A-League opponent the preference was to play Central Coast Mariners.
"It's a local derby of sorts, it's the best possible scenario for us," he said. "I'm sure a lot of Newcastle and Maitland fans will come along on the night to cheer for us.
"It is a great showcase for our young talent. Guys like Zach Thomas, who has had an outstanding year, Jimmy Thompson, young Tommy Duggan, even the like of Nick Cowburn.
"I am pretty sure it will be a live game on Fox Sports, so to showcase some of them young guys is great."
One of the most excited among the playing group was former Mariners goal keeper Matt Trott.
"Trotty played for the Mariners and is buzzing like an 18-year-old about getting to play against his old club," Bolch said.
In the meantime, Maitland play Lambton Jaffas at Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday afternoon in round 15 of the Northern NSW NPL.
