Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield says his Richmond counterpart Dustin Martin has been the best player in the AFL this year.
The two midfield dynamos are certain to be central figures in Friday's night's huge qualifying final at the MCG.
They are also the short-priced favourites to poll the most votes in the 2017 Brownlow Medal count, although Dangerfield is ineligible to win the award for a second straight year due to suspension.
"(Martin) has certainly had an outstanding season - he's a real key component to Richmond playing really good footy," said Dangerfield, who reaches the 200-game milestone this weekend.
"That's only natural - he's been the best player in the competition.
"The challenge for us as a side is to nullify his impact."
Versatile defender Tom Stewart and onballer Cam Guthrie did a pretty good job limiting Martin's output the only previous time the teams met this year - back in round 21 when the Cats got up by 14 points at Simonds Stadium for a 13th straight win over the Tigers.
Even so, the Richmond star had 21 possessions and booted two goals.
Dangerfield said the Cats could not afford to become too Martin-conscious on Friday night.
"He's one player and they've got 21 others who will take to the field on Friday and that's been the reason behind their success this year - it hasn't just been one player," said the 27-year-old Cat.
"We've got to be very wary of the other players they have within their side.
"While he's obviously an integral part of it he's by no means the only reason they've been successful."
With only six points separating the top six teams on the ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season, Dangerfield agreed that it was the most wide-open premiership race in many years.
"I don't think there's any team that is saying `we're the best in the competition, we've won the majority of games we've played this year and we've finished on top of the ladder by a country mile'," he said.
"I think we saw last year with the way the Western Bulldogs handled the finals series that if you get it right for long enough anything is possible.
"Absolutely it's open and it gives every team great confidence, not just those teams who finished in the top four."
The winner of the clash between second-placed Geelong and third-ranked Richmond goes straight through to the preliminary final while the loser will take on either Sydney or Essendon in a cut-throat semi.
