The Australian and New Zealand teams will arrive in Canberra on Monday as Cricket ACT braces for a late-rush of ticket sales to ensure a capacity crowd for the second ODI clash on Tuesday.

Australian skipper Steve Smith ignited the three-game series with a spectacular innings of 164 at the SCG on Sunday.

But it was the absence of Maxwell that dominated headlines before the game. Maxwell took a swipe last week at Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, saying the Victorian skipper's decision to bat above him in the Sheffield Shield may have hurt his chances of a Test recall.

Maxwell was fined for his comments and left out of the team for the Chappell-Hadlee opener, but the door is open for a return in Canberra.

Maxwell smashed 136 runs off just 89 balls in the Prime Minister's XI match against England in Canberra last year.

Cricket ACT chairman John Miller said ticket sales for the match have been "a little bit below expectation" in the lead-up to the match.

However, if Maxwell forces his way into the Australian XI his X-factor value will have fans on the edge of their seats.

The 28-year-old has played two of his 67 ODIs in Canberra, posting a stunning 41 from 20 balls against India at Manuka Oval last year.

Miller says Australia's return to form in the Adelaide Test against South Africa should generate some more interest with Cricket ACT officials anticipating a sell-out crowd at Manuka Oval.

"It's [Australia's form] probably always in the back of your mind," Miller said.

"But the reality is I think people still want to go and see good cricket when it's in front of them and I'm sure again when Tuesday comes around we'll have a very healthy crowd at Manuka Oval."

A crowd of around 13,500 were on hand to witness the beginning of the first game – a disappointing number given it was Sydney's first international of the summer on a Sunday afternoon.

World No.3 New Zealand have started to build a reputation as a drawcard after their World Cup final finish last year.

However, the peculiar scheduling of the series has made it a tough sell for Cricket Australia despite the intriguing recent battles between the trans-Tasman rivals.

Miller says the upcoming fixture is a chance for Canberra fans to make a statement to Cricket Australia after low crowd numbers at Bellerive Oval for the Hobart Test.

"I think certainly at this stage over the last couple of years Canberra has proved its support for more high level cricket in the ACT and at Manuka Oval," Miller said.

"It's important that we continue to produce good crowds but, as I said, Canberra's rated very, very highly over the last few years.

"There are all sorts of factors I guess that contribute to the crowd attendance, be it weather and sometimes it can be performance.

"In the last couple of years at the ODIs and through the World Cup and BBL final, and even to a lesser extent the shield final, I think Canberrans have demonstrated that they're ready and waiting for more high level content in the ACT.

"It will be important that we continue to support that and hopefully we'll get to see a lot more of that into the future which is certainly one of our expectations."

CHAPPELL-HADLEE SERIES

Tuesday: Australia v New Zealand at Manuka Oval, 2.20pm. Tickets available at Ticketek.