Essendon X-factor Jake Stringer's sudden surge into form has Simon Goodwin a little on edge as the Melbourne coach returns to home comforts in South Australia.
On Saturday, Goodwin takes his Demons back to Adelaide Oval where they boast an 8-2 record during the former Crows champion's seven seasons at the helm.
The Dees will start favourites against the Bombers but are acutely aware of the need to negate the explosive Stringer, who gave a strong reminder of his damaging best last week.
In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Stringer booted 4.6 from 15 disposals to help see off GWS and give Essendon a third win from their opening four games.
"He's a pretty handy player, there's no doubt about that," Goodwin said this week.
"They're a different team when he's playing. He's very dynamic, so we've got some plans in place for Jake.
"We've got to make sure that he's one player that we do look after and make sure that he's taken out of the game.
"He's too good a player just to let have 8-10 scoring shots in a game of footy.
"He's going to hit the scoreboard and he's going to provide energy, so we've got to make sure that we take that away from them."
While Stringer poses a significant threat, Melbourne are more than comfortable on neutral turf at Adelaide Oval.
They famously selected the venue for a 'home' qualifying final in 2021, with victory over Brisbane that night leading the Demons down the path towards a drought-breaking premiership.
It came in a strong series of performances in the City of Churches, where Melbourne's only two defeats under Goodwin - one each against hometown outfits Adelaide (2021) and Port Adelaide (2018) - were by a cumulative margin of less than two goals.
So it should come as no surprise that SA native Goodwin, who was drafted from South Adelaide and won two flags in a 275-game career with the Crows, is more than happy with the Gather Round fixture.
The Bombers-Demons clash is the first match in a double-header on Saturday, with Port Adelaide hosting the Western Bulldogs in the main event.
"We love Adelaide Oval. It's a ground we've had some success on previously," Goodwin said.
"We played a home final there, which is a strange thing to say, but it's a ground where we've adapted to a different way of playing at times.
"It's something that we're pretty conscious of as we head towards this game against the Bombers, who are in some really good form.
"We're going to have to prepare well and play our best footy."
Essendon have recalled Will Snelling for his first senior game of the season after losing former Melbourne key forward Sam Weideman to concussion protocols.
Bombers goal sneak Alwyn Davey Jnr has been managed.
Ben Brown returns from injury to add firepower for the Demons, who have recalled Adam Tomlinson with defensive duo Jake Lever (ankle) and Michael Hibberd (Achilles soreness) out injured.
