The game within the game. The battle within the war. Daicos versus Mullin. Collingwood versus Geelong.
The match-up alone warrants the Thursday night primetime lights at the MCG, but with both clubs searching for a top-six finish, the winner will strengthen their premiership credentials.
And where it could be determined is how Daicos performs, with Mullin riding shotgun.
Cats coach Chris Scott confirmed the obvious on Monday night: his Irish stopper will mark the Pies superstar. Mullin has had a huge three weeks, tasked with curbing the influence of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Kysaiah Pickett and now, Daicos, the toughest task of them all.
But what makes him so good?
"Speed, agility, his footing," former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas told Zero Hanger. "He's got a low centre of gravity. He's got a really strong core, which you can tell from how quickly he can move at different angles and change direction, and his mental toughness is a key factor. He's very disciplined and very focused, and he plays inside the rules too, which is the other thing I like about him."
Mullin even received praise from opposition coach Craig McRae, who is anticipating the mouth-watering match-up.
"He's got an elite ability to cover the ground. His endurance and physical capability stand out so he's done a great job on a couple of really good players in the competition," McRae said in the lead-up to Thursday's clash.
So how do Mullin and Geelong stop Daicos?
"(Daicos is) the sort of guy that requires a whole team focus rather than just an individual," Thomas said.
"I've got great respect for Mullin and the way he goes about it. He's done some fantastic jobs this year, and if anyone can do it, he can. But it requires an enormously focused and disciplined effort. But not just from Mullin. It's got to be a whole host of contacts, interactions, verbal everything at every moment, and the problem with AFL footy now, it goes so quick, and players are so focused on doing their own job.
"Part of it is at stoppages. I think I spend too much time trying to block and release and all that sort of stuff, and therefore they render themselves useless about trying to get the footy themselves. As long as you're always on the goal side and you've always got them boundary side, that's as much as you can probably do, and you've got opponents trying to clear paths. That's where it becomes your teammate's responsibility to take that duty to block Daicos' run.
"I don't think any player in this day and age likes the constant sort of bumping and niggling and verbage."
And how should Collingwood help Daicos with the Mullin tag?
"They try very hard to release him and stop him. You can see that he's very quick and he reads the play very well, and they'll go to him in nearly any position that he's in, because his evasive skills are excellent as well," Thomas added.
When the pair met earlier this year, it was Daicos' second-worst-rated game this season, recording 7.4 player ratings points. The Pies champ amassed 29 touches (55.2 per cent effective), two clearances, three inside 50s, and four score involvements (season low) in the 52-point loss. He was also held goalless.
It was the only game he didn't poll an AFLCA vote this year. Mullin received seven votes from the coaches for his efforts.
McRae acknowledged his charges have improved in assisting Daicos when he receives extra attention.
"I think we're getting better around supporting him, what that looks like, and his gone to another level. His running capability is like nothing I've seen."
Geelong will need another monumental performance from the Irish Cat. Daicos is in career-best form - and that's saying something - storming away towards a maiden Brownlow Medal, AFLCA award, Pies best and fairest, fourth All-Australian and second Leigh Matthews trophy (MVP).
But as he and Collingwood look to add to its six-game winning streak, could a premiership medallion be on the cards?
The Pies' motto is never say never, but for Mullin, on Thursday night at the MCG, his motto is simple: stop N.Daicos.
