THE SAME people responsible for organising the Shanghai Formula 1 Grand Prix, Masters Tennis tournament and Diamond League Athletics have been hired by the AFL to make next year's historic game in China happen.

Port Adelaide will play Gold Coast at the Jiangwan Sports Centrein round eight on Sunday May 14 – the first match played for premiership points on Chinese soil.

League officials have already visited the city a number of times, but local company Juss Events has now been tasked with swinging preparations into action and navigating the significant logistical challenges.

"They're a really well qualified organisation and an important partner for us," League operations executive Travis Auld confirmed to AFL.com.au.  

"So much of the work on the ground can be done by them now.

"There will be some visits required from different people within the organization between now and the game, but a large portion will be able to be carried out on the ground by Juss Events."

The stadium has hosted an AFL game before, when Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions squared off in an exhibition match in 2010, but Auld concedes next year's game has to take it to another level.

From the transformation of soccer pitches into an AFL arena to the construction of temporary seating at both ends of the ground, plus travel, ticketing, broadcasters, corporate functions and marketing, the logistics behind the game are huge.

Auld is confident the playing surface will be up to the high standard expected at elite AFL level.

"Because (it was) an exhibition match then, our requirements for the venue aren't quite as stringent as they're going to be for a home and away match," Auld said.

"Whilst some of that experience is useful, a large part of the overlay is additional to what we had last time.

"If we're going to play a home and away game internationally, then the venue eeds to be at a standard, and the experience needs to be at a standard, that we would expect at any home and away game."