Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has implored his teammates to "live in the real world" and embrace the hype of Friday night's AFL blockbuster against Geelong.
Jenkins says the fixture between his ladder-leading Crows and the third-placed Cats should be hyped to the hilt.
"Just live in the real world - it's going to be a big game so lets embrace it, there's no point shying away from the fact," Jenkins told reporters on Monday.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's exciting. You would rather be playing first v third on Friday night than 17th v 18th on Sunday night."
Jenkins conceded his attitude differed from most AFL players who try to publicly downplay the magnitude of important games.
"I hope we build this game up a fair bit. I'm really keen to get down there and get stuck into those guys," he said of the trip to Geelong, where the Crows haven't won since 2003.
"They play that ground extremely well and we have had indifferent form down there - it's time for us to go down there and play a really good game and show that we're a real contender.
"We have obviously shown our best football is as good as anyones.
"But to go down on someone else's home ground, another contender, and win, would be a great statement.
"Athletes, competitors, enjoy when games are built up and games are huge."
Jenkins even went as far as hoping key Crow midfielder Rory Sloane was pitted against his great mate, ex-Adelaide and current Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield.
"We all would love that," Jenkins said.
"Those two boys would love nothing more than to butt heads for four quarters."
