Adelaide has usurped Collingwood atop the ladder in recent weeks, riding a seven-match winning streak, and claiming 10 of their last 11 matches, since they last faced the Magpies in Round 10.
Conversely, Collingwood have lost four of their last five matches in alarming fashion, sliding back to the peloton, after being 10 points clear atop the ladder at the conclusion of Round 16.
Craig McRae's men are staring down the barrel of an all-time pre-finals fadeout, with letting the coveted finals double chance slip a very real possibility, should they fail to right the ship against a side whose measure they've had for seven years.
The Magpies have an excellent record over the Crows, and at Adelaide Oval, and will be invoking such history in the lead up to the clash. The last time the Pies failed to beat the Crows was the infamous 2017 draw, and the Pies are a perfect 10 wins from 10 matches since, including six wins from six matches at the Adelaide Oval.
Collingwood will also take solace from a league-best winning percentage at the venue, winning 71 per cent of their matches at the ground, while also being the only side yet to concede 100 points in a match at the picturesque stadium - a quirk in serious danger against Matthew Nicks' high-octane offence.
The recent rivalry is characterised by controversial and close results - five of those 10 straight wins have been single-digit margins for the Pies, and the most recent clash was also under a two-goal margin.
Individual excellence is also a feature of recent meetings, begging the question: Who is primed to influence Saturday night's blockbuster affair?
The inspirational Crows skipper has surged to equal-second in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award voting, and outright second in Brownlow Medal favouritism. His size, forward-half acumen and uncompromising approach to the contest make him a nightmare matchup, and the Pies appear bereft of options to quell his influence.
Dawson averages almost 28 disposals and four clearances across his last five matches against the Pies, and has goaled in two of them. This season, he has kicked multiple goals on five occasions and boasts an uncanny knack for kicking majors when his side needs them most.
Dawson is second only to ruckman Reilly O'Brien for centre bounce attendance percentage for the Crows this season, and is averaging career-best tackling numbers, with the fifth-most in the league. Dawson does it all, and this versatility could well sew up the minor premiership for the Crows this weekend, with only an appointment with a lowly North Melbourne to follow this mouthwatering Magpies clash.
