GEELONG superstar Patrick Dangerfield has emphasised to his teammates that the 'time is now' for the Cats to win their first premiership since 2011.

The Cats have played in the qualifying final in three of the past four years but are yet to make a Grand Final in that time and are determined to make amends.

The first step for the Cats is defeating Richmond in a blockbuster clash at the MCG on Friday night.

Dangerfield said it was important for the senior players to remind all their teammates that the chance to win a flag had to be seized upon. 

"You are never ready for it," Dangerfield said.

"You just have to make the most of that opportunity when you get it so for us that is the message to our young players: 'don't be patient, the time is now'."

The vital qualifying final coincides with Dangerfield's 200th game, although he says the milestone pales into insignificance given the magnitude of the game.

The Cats champion played 154 games and won a best and fairest with Adelaide before joining Geelong as a free agent at the end of 2015.

He has now won a Brownlow Medal, earned five All Australian selections and is on track to win his second consecutive best and fairest at the Cats after another outstanding season.

However, he is yet to play in a Grand Final, let alone a premiership.

"After you have been in the system a number of years then you realise there are only so many opportunities that you might get at it, so when you do have them you have got to make sure that you grab them with both hands," Dangerfield said. 

The Cats beat the Tigers in their only clash this in round 21, but the game was played at Simonds Stadium and Dangerfield is aware the Tigers are a different proposition at the MCG.

This week's match also pits the two of the League's best players against each other with raging Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin carrying blistering form into the clash.

"The challenge for us as a side is to nullify his impact," Dangerfield said of Martin.

"He's one player and they have 21 others who will take to the field Friday night and that has been the reason for their success this year. It hasn't just been one player so we have to be very wary of the other players they have in their side."  

It sets the stage for a huge contest with the winner setting up a home state preliminary final against an interstate side in a fortnight's time.

But Dangerfield was quick to point out that every top-eight side would consider themselves a realistic chance to win the premiership. 

"I don't think there is anyone in the competition saying we're the best team in the competition," Dangerfield said.

"If you get it right for long enough anything is possible."

Dangerfield expects skipper Joel Selwood to play after ankle surgery forced him to miss the final three rounds.