Melbourne finally get the prime-time stage they have been craving when they host Geelong in a MCG blockbuster.
Relegated to Sunday afternoons for much of the season, the Demons will take centre stage on Friday night as they push for a top-four spot that seemed unlikely at the start of the season.
At 12-6, Melbourne have gone from a feel-good surprise packet into a genuine premiership contender.
A win over the wounded Cats, grand finalists last season, in front of a big crowd and TV audience would frank their form even more.
"It's certainly a privilege to play in a game that's shaping finals and to do it on the big stage," Demons coach Steven King said.
"We've been craving this for a while.
"We've been playing a brand of footy that stands out and that people want to watch.
"To get a prime-time slot is great recognition for our playing group and what they've been doing throughout the year.
"We want to do the occasion proud by playing a brand of footy that even neutrals can watch and say, 'That was an entertaining and really good game of football'."
It will be King's first time coaching against Geelong, where he spent two years as an assistant and played 193 games.
King played in the Cats' drought-breaking premiership in 2007, before ending his playing days at St Kilda.
"I spent the last couple of years working at that footy club, so I have great respect for and an understanding of the way they go about it," he said.
"That gives you a bit more insight, but their personnel is a little different and the game continually evolves and changes.
"While I understand what they do, my focus is more on how we want to play and go about it.
"They play a brand of football that challenges you, and that's what we're trying to do as well.
"We're evolving into something that can hopefully take our best game to Geelong this week and really set our year up."
After five losses from six starts, Geelong appeared to get their season back on track when they beat a disappointing St Kilda last week.
The Cats managed to find enough avenues to goal, even without star forward Jeremy Cameron who could miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his collarbone.
