The Tigers, Kangaroos and Hawthorn will play each other at Etihad Stadium in a round-robin affair in the first round of the slightly new-look AFL pre-season competition.
Fledgling AFL club Greater Western Sydney will face its first baptism of fire when it takes on Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs the next day.
West Coast and Fremantle will host Essendon in Perth on February 19.
St Kilda, Sydney and reigning premiers Geelong will clash the following Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
Carlton will travel to South Australia to round out the first two weekends of the competition to take on Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
2012 NAB Cup match order
February 17, Etihad Stadium from 6.45pm: Richmond v North Melbourne, North Melbourne v Hawthorn and Richmond v Hawthorn
February 18, Blacktown from 7.15pm: Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs, Western Bulldogs v Collingwood and Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney
February 19, Patersons Stadium from 4.45pm local: West Coast v Essendon, Fremantle v Essendon and West Coast v Fremantle
February 24, Etihad Stadium from 6.40pm: St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Geelong v Sydney Swans and St Kilda v Geelong
February 25, Metricon Stadium from 6.10pm local: Gold Coast v Melbourne, Brisbane Lions v Melbourne and Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions
February 26, AAMI Stadium from 2.40pm local: Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide v Carlton and Port Adelaide v Adelaide