Adelaide are looking to plant their flag on Geelong's home turf on Friday night, but the Cats believe they have the blueprint to ensure that doesn't happen.
Recent history suggests Chris Scott's unit is something of a bogey side for the AFL ladder leaders.
Geelong dented the Crows' premiership campaign last year when they stopped an eight-game winning run in round 18 at Simonds Stadium.
And the Cats have won seven of their past nine clashes, with the last four encounters won by an average of 33 points.
Adelaide's much-anticipated clash with the third-placed Cats will also see star forward Tom Hawkins celebrate his 200th AFL game.
Hawkins admits he couldn't have asked for much more for his big game and says the confident Cats are up for the contest.
"For us, Adelaide are the best side in the comp so they throw down the biggest challenge ... (but) we feel like we've maybe got a blueprint that when we're playing at our best we can beat them," Hawkins told reporters on Tuesday.
"That's a challenge for us but we've got an eight-day break, so we'll freshen up and look forward to the challenge of playing the best side in the comp in our eyes.
"It's going to be a pretty fascinating game, Adelaide have played some great footy and we've started to play well again after three rough weeks."
The Cats found their mojo last week with a tight win over Port Adelaide, while the Crows are coming off a 100-point belting of Fremantle, but Don Pyke's men haven't won at Simonds Stadium since 2003.
Crows forward Josh Jenkins did his bit for the build-up to the big match when he described it as an excellent opportunity to showcase his side's premiership credentials.
Hawkins kicked four goals when the sides last met and will be hoping for a similar output and final result in his milestone game.
"Early this week I had a little bit of a chance to reflect (on 200 games) and it's pretty cool," he said.
"It's one thing that I reckon I've actually sat back and thought 'That's a pretty good achievement in my 11 years of footy'," Hawkins said.
"I'm pretty proud to be playing 200 this week.
"There's been challenges along the way that we've had to overcome and I say we because it's not just me that should be celebrating the milestone - it's the football club, it's my friends, it's my family, my coaches at Finley footy club where I first started."
TOM HAWKINS' AFL CAREER AT A GLANCE
Born: 21 July 1988 (28-years-old).
Draft: Father-son selection, 41st overall, 2006 draft.
AFL Debut: Round 2, 2007 - Geelong 24.18 (162) bt Carlton 12.12 (84) at Etihad Stadium. Hawkins kicked three goals.
AFL Games: 199
Honours: Premiership player 2009, 2011, Geelong best-and-fairest winner 2012, Geelong leading goal kicker 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, All-Australian 2012, Pre-season premiership 2009.
Career goals: 415 (Career high: 7 goals v Brisbane, Round 23, 2014).
Share
