Craig McRae can afford to stand in awe of Collingwood's rising superstar Nick Daicos but, as coach of a rival club, Fremantle's Justin Longmuir is wary of falling into the same trap.
Daicos, the raging Brownlow Medal favourite, poses a huge threat to the Dockers who are desperately seeking an upset at the MCG on Saturday to reignite their finals hopes.
But Longmuir notes the high-powered Magpies engine room, where skilful playmaker Daicos has spent more time as the season progresses, boasts more than one player capable of tearing his side apart.
Daicos will be joined in the Magpies' midfield rotation by explosive game-breaker Jordan De Goey, who plays his 150th game, though ball magnet Tom Mitchell has been managed.
"They've got weapons all over the field and they've got a really strong midfield, and Nick has obviously moved into the midfield more," Longmuir said.
"But we've got to make sure we don't focus all our attention on Nick - whilst maintaining a level of control (on him) - and let De Goey and (Scott) Pendlebury and these guys get off the chain.
"Clearly we need more out of our midfield than what we got last week and they're really keen to nullify, but they're (also) really keen to get on the front foot and try and take it up to them."
Collingwood coach McRae has relished watching Daicos develop from last year's unanimous Rising Star winner into one of the competition's elite players this season.
"We're in awe of him, as I'm sure are others watching, and we're really lucky to have him," McRae said.
"We just love what he does. He's a brilliant player and he's a 20-year-old kid."
Important Magpies trio Steele Sidebottom (knee), Brayden Maynard (shoulder) and Dan McStay (finger) return from injuries but Darcy Cameron has been sidelined by a back issue, leaving Mason Cox and Billy Frampton to share ruck duties opposed to imposing Fremantle big man Sean Darcy.
The Dockers have been left reeling by injuries to Brennan Cox (ankle), Hayden Young (ankle), Michael Frederick (soreness) and Karl Worner (calf), as well as influential midfielder Caleb Serong's suspension.
Key defender Joel Hamling has been named to play his first match since round two last year.
Saturday's clash is the first meeting between the sides since Collingwood's comfortable semi-final win at the same venue last season.
"I know they've got some key players out but we're well aware that at the MCG they've had good form," McRae said.
"They've beaten Melbourne there this year and last year.
"They play well at that ground. We're well aware of what's coming and we don't take any opposition lightly."
Brett Rosebury will become the second field umpire to officiate in 500 AFL/VFL games during the Collingwood-Fremantle clash.
The nine-times grand final whistleblower's career at the top level spans 24 seasons after his debut in 2000.
