The AFL are hopeful that star Greater Western Sydney signing Israel Folau will play against Gold Coast's Karmichael Hunt in the opening round of the 2011 pre-season competition.

The league have unveiled their radical new format for the NAB Cup, with the two expansion teams making their debuts.

The introduction of the two new teams means the first round will consist of six groups of three clubs apiece.

Each group will play a lightning round-robin format over a three-and-a-half hour period, with the three games consisting of two 20-minute halves.

The top team from each pool and the next two best-performing sides will go through to a standard knockout quarter-final format.

The NAB Cup will open across two weekends from February 11 to 20, with the grand final on March 11.

Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney will play on February 19 at Blacktown in a pool also featuring Sydney.

New Essendon coach James Hird will go up against fellow 1996 Brownlow medallist Michael Voss when Essendon meet Brisbane in round one.

Chris Scott will start his AFL coaching career against twin brother Brad when Geelong play North Melbourne in the opening round.

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