Padraig Joyce holds aloft the Cormac McAnallen Trophy last year

The two cities hosted the 2003 Tests although the venue for the second game switches from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to the Telstra Dome.

The opening Test will be held at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Friday on 21 October which had a sell-out attendance of over 41,000 in 2003.

The second match will be played at the Telstra Dome on Friday 28 October.

The Telstra Dome is home to a number of AFL sides and regularly hosts Cricket and Rugby internationals as well as concerts and major trade and entertainment events.

For AFL games, the stadium has a capacity in the region of 54,000 and its retractable roof is just one of the many modern features of the purpose built stadium first opened in 2000.

The series has gone from strength to strength in recent years GAA president Sean Kelly

Ireland are the current holders of the Cormac McAnallen Cup, having won both tests in Croke Park last October, while Australia won the 2003 series with the two matches drawing more than 100,000 fans in total.

The Ireland team will be managed by former Down All Ireland winning manager Pete Mc Grath while the AFL will appoint a new head coach, to replace the retiring Garry Lyon, who has been in charge of the Australians since 2001.

Mr Sean Kelly, President of the GAA said: "The International dimension has provided an unprecedented opportunity for the top players from both codes to come together and represent their respective countries.

"The series has gone from strength to strength in recent years and I am sure there will again be enormous interest among the Irish sporting public in the visits to Perth and Melbourne in October."

AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said."Australia and Ireland sold out the match at Subiaco Oval in 2003 while the end of October is a great time to be in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Spring Carnival.