GEELONG gifted Adelaide a finals berth on Friday night when it succumbed to Collingwood, but both the Crows and West Coast have plenty to gain from winning on Sunday.

It's all about ladder position - victory would send Adelaide to seventh place and boost its chances of finishing fifth or sixth and earning a home final heading into the last round.

But a win for the Eagles would cement a top-two finish and keep the possibility of a minor premiership alive.

• Forecast this season's final standings with the AFL Ladder Predictor 

Crows coach Scott Camporeale said his group had come "full circle" since the two sides' last encounter in round 15 at Domain Stadium, when the fog of Phil Walsh's tragic death hung low.

The respect on show during that emotionally-charged encounter was a highlight of the season.

Walsh's passing hit both clubs hard and so, 50 days after the Crows returned to the field, these teams meet again with clearer heads in what promises to be a contest played in a finals-like atmosphere.

Grunt work

This is where Adelaide lost control in round 15; the Eagles dominated hit-outs, clearances and contested possession – leading to 73 inside 50s. Luke Shuey (nine clearances) and Matt Priddis (seven) were ferocious on the inside, while Andrew Gaff (10 inside 50s) and Jamie Cripps (10) carved outside. If left unchecked, they'll combine to hand-feed the Eagles' forwards – Adelaide's backmen won't stand a chance. Priddis might be third in the AFL for clearances, but Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson are ranked seventh and eighth. Combined with Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas the Crows have an elite contested game.

The big boys

It was hardly a fair fight the last time Nic Naitanui and Sam Jacobs went at it in round 15 – the Crows' first game since Phil Walsh's death. Jacobs admitted his mind was elsewhere as Naitanui's athleticism around the ground saw him dominate. Naitanui's leap poses obvious issues, but Jacobs has worked hard in recent years to improve his mobility. He now finds much more of the ball and his tap-work remains excellent. On a more level playing field, the pair's encounter in round 19 last year saw Jacobs amass 42 hit-outs to Nic Nat's 27 and he also had one more possession. 

The duel between Sam Jacobs and Nic Naitanui will be pivotal on Sunday. Picture: AFL Media 

Daniel Talia v Josh Kennedy

Like a throwback to 1990s footy, this battle between full-forward and full-back will captivate the crowd. Kennedy is in ridiculous form and has the Coleman Medal sewn up after another seven goals last week. But Talia matches up against the spearhead as well as anyone in the competition. In an emotional round 15 clash after coach Phil Walsh's death, Talia held Kennedy to just two goals and had him sorted in round 19 last year before being subbed at half-time. To that point Kennedy had one goal – he finished with five. 

Who gets Eddie?

The trouble with stopping Eddie Betts is that he only needs a quarter to take the game away from opposition sides. He is one of the smartest players going around and takes just about any chance he's offered. His defensive pressure also allows him to influence a contest and create scoring opportunity even when he doesn't have possession. Jamie Bennell didn't play in round 15 but looms a likely match-up. He hasn't had the year he'd have liked but after working into form off half-back in the WAFL, what better test for Bennell to sit before the finals? 

Jeremy McGovern v Taylor Walker

Other than Josh Kennedy, no player has had more shots on goal than Walker this year, yet he ranks fourth for majors – 20 behind Kennedy. The past fortnight has been different; Walker has booted 10.4, including his seven-goal haul last week. McGovern, though,has shown huge character to emerge in a year when most thought West Coast's defence would prove its undoing. A dodgy hamstring has curtailed the second half of his season but he'll hope to smother Adelaide's prime target in his first game back from a fortnight out. 

The battle in the coach's boxes

Adelaide interim coach Scott Camporeale is a far more accomplished coach now than he was in his first game in round 15. His relationship with the playing group has improved and, importantly, the players better understand what he wants from them. He's experienced too – 2015 was set to be his ninth year as an assistant coach. Adam Simpson has to be given massive credit for West Coast's incredible year. In the face of huge injury troubles Simpson has galvanised a playing group and formed a deadly efficient game plan that is easily executed. They score big (ranked second) and defend hard (ranked second). The presence of Eagles premiership coach John Worsfold in Adelaide's coaching box is a wildcard. He's too long gone from West Coast to bring much knowledge in regards to strategy, but he's a calming influence on the Crows' coaches and he'd know many of the Eagles players extremely well.