The MCG will be hosting two festivals this weekend - one for the 'Country Game' and the other for AFL 300-gamer James Kelly.
The Essendon utility notches the almighty milestone on Saturday night against former club Geelong.
The celebration of regional Australia and 'Pops' 300th match have both received plenty of promotion through the week with coach John Worsfold saying, tongue slightly in cheek, the 33-year-old had been the focus of attentions at the club's Tullamarine base.
"We've had a bit of a festival this week around James Kelly and generally acknowledge each day what he's up to," he said on Friday.
"We had a great video the other day which a lot of his old teammates had very good input into ... it's been about acknowledging the enormity of what he's achieved."
While Kelly hits the triple century with the Bombers, he's going to be remembered for his three premierships in 273 games with Geelong.
Chris Scott coached him to the third of those flags in 2011 and said his performances through the year will remain his abiding memory of his playing career.
"I was staggered when I got to Geelong in 2011 that he'd never been All Australian," he said.
Finally getting the recognition as being one of the premier players of at least one season ... I was really proud of him as a coach when he was recognised because I thought that honour was well overdue."
Scott declared captain Joel Selwood a certain starter in the match despite limping out of last week's loss to Gold Coast with an ankle issue.
That loss has prompted four changes to the Cats line-up, including the addition of Irish first-gamer Mark O'Connor.
The 20-year-old County Kerry product joins Zac Smith, Tom Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij in the team, with Aaron Black, Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Murdoch and Darcy Lang dropped.
Scott said that was less about sending a message and more about "suiting the team's purpose" this week.
Essendon has returned rested duo Jobe Watson and No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath into its team, along with forward James Stewart for a club debut.
Brent Stanton, Martin Gleeson and Aaron Francis have been left out, with Worsfold managing two six-day breaks and trip to Perth in the last fortnight.
"It certainly was a testing schedule. We think we've managed it as well as we've could," he said.
Worsfold said Watson would enter the match "absolutely refreshed" and capable of hitting career-best form in 2017.
"I think he can and I think we've seen it already this year. He's still going to have a big influence on games."
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