Wigan Athletic will play Rochdale in League One at 1.30pm after their opponents agreed to move the game forward from its original time of 3pm.

The March 28 Super League fixture between Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers will then start at 8pm.

It is the first time since the venue was opened 17 years ago in 1999 that such a scenario has arisen, despite the Warriors formally asking the RFL to avoid a clash in September.

The agreement means there will be less than five hours for ground staff to change the surface from a football pitch to one fit for rugby league.

Although they regularly change from one to the other due to the two clubs sharing the stadium on a long-term basis, there has never been such a short turnaround before.

Wigan Athletic chief executive Jonathan Jackson told Sky Sports, "We would like to thank Rochdale Football Club for agreeing to an earlier kick-off.

"Otherwise there would not have been enough time to host a match in the evening. Stadium Manager Andy Birch has devised a plan to turn the stadium around in the time available.

"It will take a huge effort from his staff, involving the groundsman and his team, the stadium hospitality staff and cleaners.

"As a football club, the idea of moving kick-offs is familiar in the live television age, so this will not be a problem for Gary Caldwell and the players.

"But it is a huge logistical undertaking for the stadium to host both games on the same day and we are grateful to Andy and his staff for their professionalism in accommodating these fixtures."