WHAT’S THAT saying about the form guides go out the window for clashes between big rivals?

It remains to be seen whether that’s the case when Carlton and Collingwood meet for Friday night football, but regardless, an unmissable night of football is in store.

After good starts to the season, neither side was able to get the win last week, with the Pies playing in a famous Anzac Day draw while the Blues went down to the undefeated Cats in a high-scoring affair at the MCG.

Now back at the home of football, the two old enemies will be looking to reclaim the winning formula when they meet for the 265th time.

And if one thing is for sure when Carlton and Collingwood clash, particularly these incarnations coached by premiership teammates Michael Voss and Craig McRae, it’s going to be a hot football.

Both teams rank among the very upper echelons in the competition when it comes to source pressure, with Carlton ranked No.2 for tackles while Collingwood - ranked No.3 - aren’t far behind. The Blues are also the best in the AFL for winning contested possessions after seven rounds, but their work will be cut out for them against the fifth-ranked Pies.

For the Blues to get a result, they’re going to have to tidy up their efficiency going forward, with the Pies one of the best teams in the competition at winning the ball back (ranked third for intercepts). 

It’s no surprise that a central figure in that statistic is their premiership captain Darcy Moore, who will resume hostilities with fellow No.30 Charlie Curnow once again.

Moore was the best player on the ground the first time the two sides met last year, equalling the intercept mark record, but Curnow responded in kind in Round 20, winning the Richard Pratt Medal for best on ground with a six-goal haul.

It’ll be hard to look away when the reigning All-Australian full back and full forward go head-to-head in front of 90,000 people.

One player who Curnow who will be delighted is back in the fold is great mate Adam Cerra, who will feature for the first time since Gather Round in his return from a hamstring injury.

Cerra has loved playing against the Pies since becoming a Blue, achieving three consecutive AFL Fantasy scores of 100+ in his opening three outings. He was well on track to make it four last year when injury prematurely ended his night, but his impact in just over two quarters was that profound that he still received Richard Pratt Medal votes.

Priced at $809,000 on AFL Fantasy, the midfielder could prove to be a point of difference against a favourite opponent this week.