Essendon are bracing for a finals-like contest on Friday night, when they face Sydney for the first time since losing last year's lopsided AFL elimination final.
The Swans ended the Bombers' 2017 campaign in clinical fashion at the SCG, booting 10 goals in the second quarter en route to a 65-point win.
Lance Franklin, who has dominated Essendon throughout his decorated career, kicked four goals alone during that second-term onslaught.
The stakes won't be quite as high at Etihad Stadium but it'll be the quintessential eight-point game in a competitive race to September.
The Bombers sit 11th on the ladder, having won five of their past six games to reignite finals hopes that were seemingly extinguished.
The Swans, who remain fourth after their shock loss to Gold Coast, risk tumbling out of the top eight if they lose on Friday.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for us to show how far we've come from last time we played them," Bombers ruckman Tom Bellchambers told reporters.
"We know they're going to come out firing ... they'll be looking to bounce back.
"Their strengths are probably their inside mids and that's been a real strength of ours this year."
The Bombers were given no chance of contesting finals after slipping to 15th on the ladder in May, having become the first - and still only - team to lose to Carlton this year.
Bellchambers and teammates are yet to study the permutations of the four rounds remaining after a crunch clash with Sydney, knowing the equation is pretty simple if they wish to return to finals.
"There's no discussion around it, mathematically or anything like that," he said.
"We know each week is really important for us and we know we need to win. It's about taking care of Sydney."
Franklin looms as one of the most imposing obstacles in Essendon's path.
The star forward, who averages 4.5 goals against the Bombers, will be desperate to bounce back after his first goalless game of the season.
"He's a super player but it's business as usual for us," Bellchambers said.
"(Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker) will have their hands full, no doubt, but it's probably more of a team defence sort of thing that is going to stop him."
