Sydney New Year's Eve revellers are being promised a "full show" after two years of COVID-19 disruptions.
Lockdowns at the end of 2020 and an Omicron outbreak at the end of 2021 dampened celebrations.
Foti Fireworks, the company behind this year's spectacle, has been putting on a display for 25 years.
Crews have been working 10- to 12-hour days getting Sydney's iconic sites ready for New Year's Eve, with crowds expected to return to pre-COVID-19 numbers of more than a million.
Creative director Fortunato Foti said the night was sure to go "off with a bang".
"No pun intended," he said.
"It's probably going to be a special one … being the first one back from COVID, everyone's sort of looking forward to getting the full show back."
This time last year, many were in isolation after a spike in COVID-19 case numbers. Sydney recorded 20,000 infections, almost 10,000 fewer infections than those reported this week by NSW Health.
Mr Foti said this year there will be bigger fireworks from more locations, with the Opera House lit up for World Pride and a First Nations 9:00pm show created by artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding.
"It's the first year back since it [COVID] started where it's the full show and hopefully full audience.
"There's a few new things that are in this year's show. We're doing a multicoloured waterfall and a multicoloured bridge moment."
Fifty crew members have been setting up more than 100,000 pyrotechnics along with 35,000 shooting ground-based effects and 12,000 aerial shells.
In total, there will be 8 tonnes of fireworks let off during the 8-minute display.
City of Sydney major events producer Stephen Gilby said the free council-run sites around the harbour were all expecting maximum capacity crowds.
"Numbers were really low last year in comparison … less than 100,000," he said.
"Luckily we don't have that problem. So people are really getting ready to come out and party."
But, patrons are being urged to plan carefully for the evening.
"Even if you booked a ticket, just remember coming around the city on New Year's Eve is not the same as any other day," Mr Gilby said.
"There's so many road closures and so many changes to the situation."
The ticketed entry to 24 free vantage points around the city was put in place last year to monitor audience numbers.
While no crowd restrictions are in place for Saturday's show, paid tickets are being made available for prime viewing spots — charging as much as $520.
On Wednesday, NSW Labor said they would put a cap on what could be charged for the celebration.
Picnickers at the Botanic Gardens said the cost of entry to any venue around the fireworks was "unfair".
"It's a public space. So I think it should be free," Anthony El Helou said.
"I don't think that's fair on New Year's Eve to try and capitalise out of it."
Sydney mother Sam Allen said while charging was expected for some venues, many families now felt priced out of attending.
"I think it should be a family-friendly event where people can bring their families and just watch the fireworks."
