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 development of ‘Filthy' was halted by a knee injury early last year, but the stint on the sidelines and the subsequent time it gave him in the gym have propelled him to further stardom.
The Crows big man has been brilliant since returning late last season, and alongside Western Bulldogs ‘unicorn' Sam Darcy, he looks to be the dominant key forward of the next decade.
The Pies will be without defensive general Jeremy Howe this week, as he works through concussion protocols following a clash with Jai Newcombe early in his side's loss to Hawthorn last week.
Skipper Darcy Moore has been unconvincing at best and costly at worst lately, and fellow key defender Billy Frampton looked all at sea in his return from injury last week. Collingwood's defence has a penchant for conceding big bags of goals to big players lately, with Ben King (four goals), Patrick Voss (six), Logan Morris (six) and Jack Gunston (four) all enjoying days out in the last five weeks.
Those names were not in the ominous form Thilthorpe is, and do not boast his presence. Having overcome a worrisome knock against West Coast, expect the ‘Thillseeker' to dictate proceedings on Saturday night.
