It follows the signing of a deal with the Queensland State Government, the AFL and Tourism and Events Queensland.

The Suns’ home ground, the Carrara Stadium, will host both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as athletics, at Gold Coast 2018.

The Games are due to be held from April 4 to 15, a period during which the Suns will contest a home game at Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium.

The club needs to find a new location for up to four home games in all.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, it is also expected to play in China for a second year against Port Adelaide and likely to use The Gabba in Brisbane for at least one game.

Tio Traeger Park in Darwin and the under-construction Perth Stadium, which is due to open on January 21 of next year, are also reported to be options.

Organisers have begun work on laying a warm-up track for athletes by Carrara Stadium.

The venue is set to have a track installed for the Games, while a temporary stand will raise the capacity from 25,000 to 40,000.

"It is a horseshoe-shaped venue and we are closing an end with temporary stands, which will have about 10,000 seats," Gold Coast 2018 chief executive Mark Peters told insidethegames.

"That will be done from February through to mid-March.

"We are holding the Australian Championships there in track and field, which will be a great test for the venue after that.

"The venue will be finalised in late February at the latest."

The Suns have also agreed to play a home game at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville in either 2019 or 2020.

"Bringing the Gold Coast Suns up north is a big win for Queensland and it will be great to see Townsville hosting a premiership AFL game for the first time," Kate Jones, the Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games, told the Gold Coast Suns’ website.

"Cairns and Townsville have an extremely strong AFL fan base and these games will help the code expand its reach in Queensland and give lovers of Aussie rules the chance to experience live AFL action in north Queensland.

"I am confident that these Premiership games will attract sell-out crowds.”

Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane said the club was delighted to be deepening its connection with North Queensland.

"We know North Queensland fans are passionate about AFL, and with the support of both the AFL and Tourism and Events Queensland, we are thrilled they will see the team play first hand in a series of matches in the region," he added.

"As a club we have established significant support in Cairns and Townsville and enjoy playing our role in developing Australian Football throughout the region, which is also a key recruitment catchment for the Gold Coast Suns Talent Academy.

"In the past, through community camps, pre-season games and AFL premiership fixtures, the Gold Coast Suns has and will continue to support the growth of AFL in North Queensland."