Can Melbourne exorcise their demons from 2018? Can the Cats earn another shot at a flag?
Friday night's preliminary final at Optus Stadium is shaping as a mouth-watering affair and these three key matchups could determine the outcome.
Key matchups
Harrison Petty vs. Jeremy Cameron
The Cats gave up plenty to bring star forward Jeremy Cameron to the club for these very occasions.
If Cameron can get off the chain, Geelong will go a long way to winning the game.
Steven May will get the job on Tom Hawkins, pitting two of the competition's best bookends against each other, while Petty, just like in round 23, will likely be given the task on the former Giant.
Cameron had two goals from 10 touches that night as the Dees stormed home to claim an after-the-siren win.
Any impact Cameron has on Friday won't just be felt on the scoreboard - if intercepting Demon Jake Lever has the confidence his fellow defenders are on top, he'll be freed up to roam the back 50 as he pleases.
As with Cameron, the likes of Gary Rohan and Esava Ratugolea will need to give Melbourne's miserly backline plenty to think about all night.
Max Gawn vs. Rhys Stanley
If Geelong's star-studded lineup has any obvious deficiency, it's in the ruck.
When up against All Australian ruckman Max Gawn, that weakness could be highlighted for all to see.
Gawn was hugely influential last time these sides met, picking up 25 disposals, 39 hitouts and the all-important match-winning goal.
Rhys Stanley will need to play out of his skin to prevent the Demons midfield getting the upper hand, but he'll be coming in full of confidence after a strong performance against GWS last week.
Stanley had 15 kicks and limited the output of opposite number Shane Mumford as the Cats bounced back from their qualifying final defeat.
Fellow big man Ratugolea is also likely to be called upon to help with the task of handling Gawn.
Patrick Dangerfield vs. Christian Petracca
Here's one for the neutrals.
Chris Scott and Simon Goodwin did fans a favour in round 23 when they let two of the competition's powerhouse onballers go head to head.
Fingers crossed they do it again in the high-stakes prelim.
Petracca is coming into the contest in better form, having kicked two goals among 30 possessions in the Dees' qualifying final win.
Dangerfield on the other hand has been carrying a finger injury and has looked hampered.
Though you can never write off a champion and the 31-year-old will be as motivated as ever to claim a maiden premiership.
Both inclined to hunt the footy and get forward, this contest however could hinge on which of these midfield bulls gets the most help from their teammates.
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Preliminary final teams
Melbourne
B: Christian Salem, Steven May, Jake Lever
HB: Jake Bowey, Harrison Petty, Trent Rivers
C: Tom Sparrow, Christian Petracca, Ed Langdon
HF: Bayley Fritsch, Tom McDonald, Jack Viney
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, Charlie Spargo
Fol: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw
Int: James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Michael Hibberd, Kysaiah Pickett
Geelong
B: Jack Henry, Lachie Henderson, Zach Tuohy
HB: Jake Kolodjashnij, Mark Blicavs, Jed Bews
C: Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie, Isaac Smith
HF: Esava Ratugolea, Jeremy Cameron, Gary Rohan
F: Sam Menegola, Tom Hawkins, Gryan Miers
Fol: Rhys Stanley, Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield
Int: Tom Atkins, Zach Guthrie, Max Holmes, Brad Close
