Where and when: MCG, Saturday July 31, 2.10pm AEST
Head to head: Collingwood 113 wins, Carlton 123 wins, four draws
Last time: Collingwood 24.11 (155) d Carlton 16.6 (102), round six, 2010 at the MCG

In a match of momentum shifts, the Pies’ seven-goal second quarter proved the difference. A highly-entertaining third term saw Carlton -through the efforts of Chris Judd and Setanta O’hAailpin (five goals) - fight back to get within a kick but it couldn’t get its nose in front. Luke Ball (three goals) and Dane Swan inspired Collingwood to boot the next four goals, and the Pies finished the job with another seven in the last.

MISSING IN ACTION
Carlton
Dennis Armfield (neck) - test
Ryan Houlihan (knee) - test
Matthew Kreuzer (knee) - season
Kane Lucas (hamstring) - indefinite
Brock McLean (knee) - 1 week
Rhys O’Keeffe (back) - indefinite
Simon White (hip) - season

LAST WEEK
Carlton 15.19 (109) d West Coast 11.17 (83) at Subiaco Oval
The Blues looked in a hole at half time against the Eagles last week but somehow managed to find a way out. Mark LeCras helped West Coast to an early lead but Carlton rallied through the efforts of Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Kade Simpson, with the latter the catalyst in the second-half comeback.

Leading goalkicker - Eddie Betts (37)
Leading ballwinner - Bryce Gibbs (438)

DANGER MEN
Carlton sharpshooters Chris Yarran and Eddie Betts would appear to hold the keys for their side, with the pair likely to have to kick a haul for the Blues to be a chance. Yarran had an equal career-high 18 possessions and booted 2.2 when these two sides played in round six, while Betts booted three.

HOW’S STAT?
From their last 20 meetings, these two great rivals are balanced at 10-10. All but one of those past 20 games have been at the MCG.

Carlton won that oneh, which was played at Princes Park in 2000, by a whopping 111 points. It was its greatest margin over Collingwood.

WHAT’S AT STAKE
While Collingwood doesn’t leave the MCG for the rest of the year, it has a tough month to finish with matches against Geelong, Essendon, Adelaide and Hawthorn. With the top four so tight and end-of-season positions crucial, it can’t afford to drop this one.

Carlton is still scrounging to secure its place in the eight, and while it’s not fancied to beat the top-of-the-ladder Pies, a good performance is needed. If it can’t force an upset, preserving its healthy percentage is a must.

WHAT THE OPPOSITION SAYS
“I don’t think much from our group has to be said. The rivalry and what it means to our football club ... I think sometimes with the group you say the word 'Collingwood' and it gets the hairs on the back of the neck going and I think our group gets stimulated on these big occasions. There's none bigger.” - Carlton coach Brett Ratten on his club’s rivalry with the Pies

WHAT THE PIES SAY
“I personally would like to think that they acknowledge the fact that we’re playing Carlton, a great rival of the past, but I am also very much aware that each player has his own sense of occasion. I’d be very disappointed, quite frankly, if they’re not as switched on for last week’s game and next week’s game as they are for this week’s game.” - Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse plays down the occasion

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.