1. Brian Lake v Travis Cloke

Hawthorn defender Brian Lake is no stranger to taking on the game’s power forwards.

The 33-year-old Hawk will likely get the job on Collingwood star Travis Cloke tonight, especially with fellow key defender James Frawley missing with a shoulder injury. 

Cloke was held goalless against Fremantle last week, but had kicked 12 goals in the preceding two matches, proving his importance to the Magpies.

2. Darcy Moore

It will be interesting to see how son-of-a-gun Darcy Moore fares in his AFL debut.

Moore, a 199-centimetre key position player, will be joined by another debutant in Brayden Maynard. 

Both players were taken in last year’s draft – with Moore the son of 1979 Brownlow Medallist and former Collingwood captain Peter Moore.

3. Jon Ceglar v Jarrod Witts

Ruckman Jon Ceglar will come up against his former club Collingwood for the third time.

He will go head-to-head with Jarrod Witts, the 209-centimetre ruckman who made his AFL debut in 2013, the same year as Ceglar did for the Hawks. 

Witts has played 33 games and Ceglar 29, and the winner of this battle will have a big impact on the game.

4. Ryan Schoenmakers

Swingman Ryan Schoenmakers returns to Hawthorn’s side after a one-week stint in the VFL.

With no Jarryd Roughead, Schoenmakers will have a key role to play against the Magpies. 

It’s anticipated the 24-year-old will start forward, and if so, the Hawks will be looking for him to provide a contest near goal.

5. Sam Mitchell v Scott Pendlebury

Finding space in the heat of battle never seems to be a problem for Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell and Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury.

It’s highly unlikely these two stars will go head-to-head in the middle of the ground, but both will be pivotal in the context of the match.

Both are prolific ball-winners - with Mitchell averaging 29.4 disposals per match in 2015 and Pendlebury 27.7 – but it will be their ability to set up play and bring their teammates into the game that will be most important.