Dubbo's premier football ground could not be used for the planned matches against a Kurri Kurri club on March 28 due to preparation of the surface ahead of the winter playing season, Dubbo City Council advised.

But on Monday the council resolved to make the newly-redeveloped Barden Park athletics complex available, with mayor Mathew Dickerson saying discussions had left him confident its synthetic track - a $1.7 million addition - could be protected.

Councillors welcomed an alternative venue being put forward, with Cr Bill Kelly reporting there had been "talk in the community of the possibility of us losing" the trial because Dubbo Apex Club's Caltex Park was not available.

In a mayoral minute to the council, added to the agenda after the business papers were printed last week, Cr Dickerson brought forward the issue.

The council had been approached by representatives of the Dubbo CYMS Rugby League Football Club (RLFC) about a planned trial between CYMS/ Dubbo St John's Junior RLFC and Kurri Kurri RLFC.

It would involve players aged from under-6s to first grade, "which obviously represents a significant number of people visiting Dubbo", Cr Dickerson said in the minute.

"Unfortunately the timing of the event is in the middle of the ground preparation period when no play is permitted on the Caltex Park No 1 field," he said.

Then called Apex Oval, it was upgraded in 2012 and oversowing the field had been part of the "successful recipe" to present a ground of international standard in the past two seasons, Cr Dickerson said.

He proposed using the grass surfaces of Barden Park to facilitate the trial.

"In proposing the use of this facility it is obvious that the protection of the synthetic track is paramount," he said.

Cr Dickerson said he was confident after discussions with the parks and landcare services director that appropriate management of the facility would see the synthetic track was not disturbed.

Cr Allan Smith supported the plan, saying it was a genuine attempt to both accommodate the trial matches but also protect infrastructure.

Cr Kelly offered his support and reported to the council what was at stake.

"There's been a lot of talk in the community of the possibility of us losing (the trial)," he said.

He said it involved 500 people and that people who had booked accommodation had been looking at cancelling.

"I'm grateful the council has found (an alternative venue)," he said.

"This had the opportunity to ignite tonight if a solution was not found."

He said he regarded it as an economic boost as well as a football game.

Cr Dickerson said the council had only received short notice and that next time it may be possible to host the game at Caltex Park.

The Barden Park solution was carried unanimously.