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?
When Izak Rankine injured his hamstring in the dying stages of the Crows' clash with Collingwood at the MCG in 2024, it was as cruel as football can be. Dashing down the wing, looking to send the Crows forward in a last-ditch attempt to finally overcome the Pies, Rankine was pinged for running too far, and pinged his hamstring in the process.
It was one of many calls that Crows faithful bemoan in their recent meetings with the Victorian juggernaut, and it was compounded by the loss of Rankine, who was in rare form prior to this misfortune.
The 25-year-old averages just under 26 disposals per game against the Pies in the three meetings he's featured in since defecting from the Suns, and has goalled in each of these games, too. He is personally 1-7 in eight career games against Collingwood, across his two clubs, and his disposal average against the Magpies is his equal second-best against any opponent. Arguably, Rankine plays his best football against the Pies, but his team rarely gets over the line.
The Crows were +10 in clearances when the sides last met, but were impotent going forward. Rankine's best changes this narrative - he is an electric prospect, who can do damage around the ball and up forward. His versatility, flair and breakneck pace make him a nightmare matchup, and not necessarily one the Pies will have an answer for.
