It's the first fully blown State of Origin for almost two decades, but the AFL Women's players in action are used to shifting loyalties.
Teammates at club level were opponents in the old exhibition Melbourne-Western Bulldogs matches.
Opponents at AFLW level have battled together in state competitions during the winter.
The coaches are simply in awe of how far the game has come.
On Saturday night, Bec Goddard will lead the Allies against Debbie Lee's Victorian side in the inaugural women's State of Origin match, and the first for either gender this century.
The elite nature of the match - bringing together 40 of the sport's best players - has Goddard convinced it will be the best night yet for the women's game,
"Debbie and I played against each other in 2001 in freezing Canberra. She was playing for the Big V and I was playing for ACT," she said.
"We got beaten that day by around 30, 40 goals. Beating Victoria back in that day was like a distant mirage.
"And here we are now playing at Etihad in prime time and it's free for everyone to come down and see the greatest show so far in women's footy."
"It's just remarkable."
Those beatings at national carnivals are firing Goddard, but she believes her players have a different motivation.
"These girls want to be professional athletes. They're not enemies on the field," she said.
"They just want to have a great contest. But there will be a rivalry.
"(For me) the thought of beating Victoria burns with the passion of 1000 suns.
"All the poorer football states were absolutely towered up by the Vics (and) this is a great opportunity to get one back."
Lee denied the home side - fuelled by a partisan home crowd - would be favourites.
"I'm a bit worried about the 40m supergoal with some of the talent Bec has got rolling around in her forward line," she said.
"I'm looking forward to the battle."
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