Denis Banks sheepishly entered Visy Park this week . . . and he's promised to keep at least a forearm's length from David Rhys-Jones for Sunday's "Clash of the Old Foes" match between Carlton and Collingwood on the hallowed turf.

"I'll be at the other end of the ground," the former Collingwood footballer declared when asked if he expected Rhys' head to again get in the way of his right forearm.

The much-publicised "incident", in which "Banksy" put "Rhys'" lights out with a carefully weighted forearm to the side of the scone, happened in Round 19, 1986 - the day Stephen Silvagni and Wayne Johnston each booted four goals and Peter Motley was adjudged best afield in Bruce Doull's 350th senior appearance in the dark Navy Blue.

Rhys reckons he remembers the game - "save for about four or five minutes when I came to on the stretcher".

"Put it this way, when the smelling salts came out they said to me 'Do you know where you are?' and I said 'Yeah, the MCG and we're playing Collingwood'," Rhys-Jones said.

"I felt as good as gold, which could only have meant I was a great candidate for the 'no sense, no feeling' award, and I wanted to go back out and play, but they wouldn't let me. "I know we won the match, but I remember walking outside and Collingwood supporters were actually happy - 'Oh, you got your right whack Rhys-Jones!'. At least they went home with something."

Banks copped a three-match suspension at a subsequent Tribunal hearing - and seven stitches from Rhys in an earlier on-field incident which prompted swift retribution. But all was fair in love and war in '86, and time and age has mellowed both players.

In returning to the ground he remembered as Princes Park, Banks insisted he always enjoyed taking to the field in his playing days there despite the alarming scarcity of Collingood wins.

"I did like playing here, but in thinking about it know I don't reckon I ever played in a winning Collingwood side at Princes Park to be honest," Banks said. "In saying that, Carlton and Collingwood were locked into some great games here, absolutely."

The notoriety earned by both players as a result of that infmous MCG encounter shouldn't overshadow their on-field feats - Banks as a 166-game Collingwood Premiership forward and Copeland Trophy runner-up; Rhys-Jones as a 106-game Carlton Premiership defender and Norm Smith Medallist.

While both of them will be at the ground on Sunday, neither will be taking the field. Rhys-Jones is resting easy and Banks concedes the game of which he was once part has taken a physical toll.

"I won't be out there, couldn't do it," he said. "The body's not right and I'd end up in hospital I reckon. I know my limitations and I definitely won't be out on the park playing footy . . . and besides, my right arm doesn't work that well".

"Rhys", you can breath easy.

Sunday's "Clash of the Old Foes" commences at 2pm. Cost is $10 an adult with children under 15 admitted free.

The charity match is being held to aid the Peter McCallum Cancer Foundation, a key charity of both clubs and the EJ Whitten Foundation for prostate cancer awareness and men's health.