It was a reunion of two of the greats of Australian Rules football when GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy and Canberra born Essendon Coach James Hird met at the Australian War Memorial.

Friday night's NAB Cup clash will be the first ever under the new lights at Manuka and will kick off the ACT's official Centenary celebrations.

The pair shared a joke and chatted to the media ahead of the Round 3 NAB Cup clash at Manuka Oval.

"Well James, welcome back to your own backyard. This is a good spot of land, I didn't realise that you were so well off in the early days," Sheedy quipped.

"It'll be a great game tomorrow night, the first one under lights at Manuka.

"I think that the investment in to the ground (Manuka) itself is a good one by the Territory government. Also having a legend from the ACT here in James, five times best and fairest at an AFL club.

"He's going to try to win but he just has no idea what's coming up tomorrow (laughs)."

Sheedy warned his former protege not to underestimate the young GIANTS who have displayed solid performances so far in the NAB Cup and have added considerable size since the last time that they took on the Bombers last year.

"These players have been given a year, they're starting to learn a lot more, obviously they're bigger and faster which is pleasing," Sheedy said.

Hird praised the GIANTS efforts in Canberra and the opportunity that it offered the people of the ACT community to have a local team to support.

"I think people who have been in Canberra for a long time realise that Australian Rules Football has had a big impression on the people here… to have the GIANTS back playing here is amazing for the local code and the people who love football in Canberra," Hird said.