Reigning premiers Hawthorn and preliminary finalists North Melbourne will have their first true tests of the year in Sunday's AFL pre-season match.
They have noticeably beefed up their squads for their round-two NAB Challenge clash in Shepparton.
Captain Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli, Brian Lake and Shaun Burgoyne are among the premiership stars to return for the Hawks.
Likewise, North have named captain Andrew Swallow and front-line defenders Scott Thompson and Michael Firrito among eight changes.
The two teams will also have next weekend off in the pre-season schedule, meaning they can use Shepparton as a full dress rehearsal for the regular season.
Two-time premiers Hawthorn are the benchmark AFL team, while North clearly feel they are on the verge after breaking into the top four last September.
North did not play any intra-club matches before starting the NAB Challenge with a rusty performance last week against Adelaide.
Coach Brad Scott said that was partly because of the risk, but also because of the team's development.
"It's a risk we're not prepared to take when we don't feel like we get full competitive match practice out of it anyway," he said.
"Some clubs like them, some don't, but we prefer to play genuine opposition.
"We think three games is enough to do that."
"We took every opportunity probably four-five years ago to play and get time into young players.
"We're a bit more advanced in terms of our overall maturity, so that certainly plays a part."
Scott also scoffed at commentary this week that the pre-season was too long and strenuous.
The debate follows a succession of serious injuries to players.
"If we didn't have pre-season games, round one would have been last week and two guys would have had ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments," he said.
"Everyone would have been in an uproar, saying 'we need to have pre-season games'.
"So good luck - whatever happens, someone always has an answers, haven't they?"
Later on Thursday, North announced that star onballer Daniel Wells was out of their Shepparton squad with a corked thigh.
Wells suffered the injury in their opening NAB Challenge match and Ben Brown will take his place.
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