Cricket ACT boss Cameron French says a crucial piece of the jigsaw towards bringing a professional team to Canberra is almost in place.

The $6.2 million redevelopment of Phillip Oval is almost complete and French said the high performance centre will meet the standards required for an elite cricket side.

The facility includes 13 outdoor and four indoor wickets and will likely host the Sydney Thunder when they play a Big Bash fixture at Manuka Oval on January 24.

French confirmed the centre is on track to be finished by December at the the ACT Premier Cricket season launch on Tuesday.

"It's a facility for all of the community, we'll run all our pathway and junior development programs at the centre and we expect our first grade and second grade squads from clubs to play there," French said.

"We're putting the building blocks in place to provide a pathway which will allow our juniors to progress and hopefully live out their dreams of playing for Australia.

"Having appropriate high performance facilities are really good for elite cricket, whether it be international cricket or domestic cricket, you need to have options for players to train.

"It's an important part of the jigsaw [for securing a professional team] which we now have in the ACT."

Cricket Australia has promoted the ACT first grade competition to premier status for the first time, while nine Canberra exports have Sheffield Shield or Big Bash contracts this summer.

Tuggeranong Valley captain Shane Devoy hopes the competition status upgrade will attract professional players back to the capital, like his former teammate Jason Behrendorff who is set to make his Australian T20 debut against India on Saturday.

"If you look at the history of Tuggeranong producing players into first class ranks, Jas Behrendorff is going amazingly well, but we've also got Jason Floros playing for the Queensland Bulls," Devoy said.

"If we can look at our new status as a premiere competition providing a little bit more impetus for those past players to come back and add value, it can only be a good thing for all clubs."

Reigning league medallist and ACT representative Devoy backed the Canberra competition as one of the best in the country for unveiling young talent.

"This is a really good breeding ground for young players, I think at some of the major centres if you're a talented young player you do get caught up in the slog a bit," Devoy said.

"There are definitely good opportunities for guys to come play in Canberra and with our high performance program representing the ACT and southern NSW, this should be a hub for talented cricketers."

This summer Manuka Oval will host the Thunder, two women's Ashes Tests and the annual Prime Minister's XI clash on February 2.

"We're really hoping the women's Ashes comes down to the wire here and the last two games decides the series," French said.

"There's some really good content for Canberrans to get behind this summer and if you look at attendances to our marquee games in the past, the community has always supported them really well."