After promising much, both teams have just 3 wins for the year and will struggle to make the finals, placing their coaches under enormous pressure.
But the big stage of Friday Night Footy gives them a chance to show the competition they future in bright, and for either team a win is critical to silencing the critics.
Hawthorn travel to Tasmania to host Gold Coast in what will no doubt be cold and trying conditions.
The Hawks have been cursed by injury in recent weeks and, with the finals fast approaching, coming home with no more long term injuries will be just as important as claiming the 4 points.
The Suns welcome back Karmichael Hunt but lose ruckman Zac Smith who will be rested.
It will be a tough ask for the new boys in the competition to match it with one of the more elite clubs, but in what could be a low scoring game anything could happen.
The badly out of form Bombers host a resurgent North Melbourne at Docklands.
Essendon have dropped their past three matches, while the Roos have won their last two, and suddenly these teams appear to be fighting it out for what could be the last spot in the finals come September.
Saturday night Brisbane host Richmond at the Gabba in what is shaping up as one of the closest matches of the round.
Two gun forwards in Riewoldt and Brown will stand at either end of the ground, but it will be the midfield battle that will determine the winner.
St Kilda meets Geelong in another tough encounter at the MCG.
The Cats are in superb form and have yet to lose this season, while the Saints are slowly working their way back into form after a horror start to the year.
These two teams have played some cracking matches in recent years, but it appears on paper that Geelong will be far too good.
Sunday the Dockers fly to the MCG to play Melbourne.
Freo finally won last week without Aaron Sandilands, and they will need to repeat the effort again this week with their ruckman still missing with a toe injury.
The Dees have inconsistent all season, so following that form they should produce a good effort this week after their thrashing by the Pies last Monday.
It shapes as another close match that could go either way.
Carlton has moved to third place on the ladder and are clearly the next best team after the big two in Collingwood and Geelong.
This week they have a big test against the Swans, who have continued to win despite not playing their best footy.
Both teams will feature in the action come finals time, so a win now will give them confidence should they meet again in September.
The final match of the round sees Port Adelaide return from the bye with a trip to Subiaco to play West Coast.
The Eagles have been the big improvers this season and should have no trouble accounting for the Power.
Their match-up earlier in the season saw the Eagles win on the Power's home turf and with Port struggling at the bottom of the ladder it should be a similar result.
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