Rioli needs just 5.3 points to maintain his standing at No. 6 on the player ratings table, a score he has matched or bettered in 95.2 per cent of his matches since the ratings system was introduced in 2010.
Rioli's running tally of 573 points, earned in his past 40 matches, has him just six points behind Essendon's Jobe Watson, who is rated the fifth-best player in the competition.
Watson has a much higher break-even figure, so if Rioli is at his best against the Swans, he and Watson are likely to swap places.
Melbourne's Jack Watts has endured a tough season to date, but he should be delighted to be taking on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Watts has averaged 16.4 player ratings points in his four matches against the Dogs, but just nine points against all other clubs.
Essendon's David Zaharakis is another player coming up against one of his favourite opponents this weekend.
Zaharakis has averaged 17.5 points in his three matches against the Lions, compared to 10.7 against all other clubs.
In contrast, Carlton's Chris Yarran is taking on one of his least favourite opponents.
Yarran has averaged only 6.9 player ratings points in his six matches against St Kilda, whereas he has averaged 11.6 against the other 17 clubs.
Bombers midfielder Brent Stanton faces a similar situation.
Stanton has averaged only 8.1 points in his three games against the Lions. Against all other clubs his average is 12.5.
Twitter: @AFL_AdamMcNicol
