Hawke's Bay is about to be inundated by rugby league fans.

Napier's McLean Park is hosting a Melbourne Storm home-game on Saturday night against St George Illawarra Dragons.

More than two-hundred people are flying from Australia to Napier for it - including a charter flight arriving tonight with the Melbourne team and corporate supporters onboard.

Napier mayor Bill Dalton says the fact extra flights are being used to get fans here shows its success.

"It's an indication of what a big event this is not only for Hawke's Bay but for New Zealand," he said. "It's a most unusual thing."

Dalton says hundreds of Australians are coming to the bay for the game.

"Virtually it's all sold. What we're hoping for is a big walk-up crowd on the embankment. If we can sell the park out, we've got a huge chance of getting other games of this ilk."