STRAP yourselves in for the next chapter of the AFL's greatest modern-day rivalry between Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield.
In a tantalising prospect, the superstar midfielders and Brownlow medallists are set to go head-to-head in Fremantle and Geelong's season-opener for the first time since their epic duel at Adelaide Oval in 2015.
That night, Fyfe polled three votes after gathering 40 possessions and booting a goal in a narrow win, just shading Dangerfield's 38 touches and a goal for the Crows.
Plenty has transpired since. Fyfe has assumed the captaincy from David Mundy following Freo's disastrous four-win campaign and will lead the club for the first time in his home-and-away comeback from a broken leg at Domain Stadium.
Stuck on the sidelines, Fyfe watched with envy last season as Dangerfield set the competition alight after crossing to Geelong, winning the Brownlow Medal with a record tally of votes and snatching his crown as the game's best player.
It sets the stage for a spicy next installment in their growing rivalry, which Dockers coach Ross Lyon is happy to watch unfold – at least for a period - on Sunday.
"Both teams will probably have a contingency if one gets away," Lyon said on Wednesday.
"They're both dominant midfielders, big, strong-bodied midfielders – slightly different in some ways – but we've got (David) Mundy as well and they've got (Joel) Selwood.
"Joel Selwood's pretty handy, so if you just focus on one person (it can be detrimental), but I would expect them to be matched up in certain periods of the game."
Fyfe will lead a new-look Freo side compared to 2016's line-up, with Lyon confirming mature-age recruits Cam McCarthy, Bradley Hill, Joel Hamling and – against his former club – Shane Kersten as Dockers debutants.
Lyon conceded a "degree of uncertainty and anxiety" around the new season with his team still working on chemistry, but was confident Freo has prepared well for the "stern test" against last year's preliminary finalists.
"The aim is to put it together straight away but it's a work in progress and it's not going to be perfect," Lyon said.
"But we've worked really hard. It's coming along.
"Under the fierce cauldron of an AFL game, nothing can substitute for that.
"I'm sure we'll learn some lessons and look to improve."
Freo is expected to be much more competitive this season, with veteran Michael Johnson back from long-term injury to shore up the backline and giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands set to renew his stoppage combination with Fyfe.
"Aaron will play his role and hopefully give us first use but they've got really competent ruckmen," Lyon said.
"We'll back Aaron and Jon (Griffin) in as a combination … we can get Aaron forward a fair bit and he's a bit of a threat for us.
"You want your best players available, we know that's an indicator of success in the AFL typically.
"But one player can't do it. Nat can't do it. We want – and need – an equal contribution across the board."
After fielding a settled line-up across the JLT Community Series, Lyon must replace small forward Hayden Ballantyne (hamstring), with the coach confirming the likes of Hayden Crozier, Tommy Sheridan and Harley Balic are in the mix for Sunday's clash.
The match will be Freo's 15th annual Starlight Purple Haze Game, raising money for seriously ill children and teenagers, and will also see the Dockers notch 500 games – with 224 wins and a draw so far - since entering the competition in 1995.
