The NRL's bush muster has begun, with Parramatta agreeing to transfer a competition match to Mudgee next season.
The Eels are likely to meet either Gold Coast or North Queensland at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex, which also hosted this year's City-Country fixture.
The Mudgee deal was struck amid topsy-turvy negotiations to extend their residence at Parramatta Stadium for a further five years.
It has attracted financial support from the NRL, which is keen to expand the premiership rounds to "non-traditional venues" in 2013.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Canterbury are finalising talks with NRL marketing boss Paul Kind to repeat their successful Mackay experiment in 2013.
But there's no chance of the grand final replay against Melbourne being shifted to the tropics, with New Zealand or Canberra the favoured opponents.
Manly have also been exploring the possibility of tackling the Raiders in Schenzen, China, for the past two months.
Other clubs are looking to Gosford and Perth, and Kind last night said Mudgee was the only genuine bush venue on the NRL's radar at this stage.
"We'd like to see more games played in regional locations, but at the same time they have to be commercially viable," Kind said.
Kind refused to go into detail about what level of financial support the NRL was willing to provide for clubs to help spread the bible.
It's believed the Eels could receive a package worth $150,000 to play in Mudgee.
"The biggest stumbling block is giving the clubs a return, because it's one of just 12 opportunities they get every year," Kind said.
"It's harder when you're talking about stadiums with a 8,000 capacity.
"At this stage, Mudgee is the only true regional centre we're looking at."
Eels CEO Bob Bentley added: "The NRL's strategy is to take more games into regional areas and also play big games at ANZ Stadium, and we want to participate in that.
"We see Mudgee as an ideal choice to position our club in the west."
Parramatta's HQ has so far been unable to sell 2013 memberships thanks to a stand-off with the Parramatta Stadium Trust.
Eels officials wanted their previous tenancy deal - worth $1.7 million over the past five years - halved to achieve consistency with other clubs.
A new five-year agreement was reached this week, which will only guarantee Parramatta Stadium hosts eight games per season until 2018.
Aside from the Mudgee fixture, two matches will once again be staged at Olympic Park's ANZ Stadium and the remaining fixture to be determined each season.
It's expected the Eels will tackle Canterbury and Souths at Olympic Park.
The club is also looking closely at transferring its training base to adjacent Parramatta Gaol.
