THIS year, we've had two challengers take on the title holder; on both occasions the champ has reigned supreme.

In round 16, Geelong blew away the Western Bulldogs in the final term to win by 61 points at Skilled Stadium. The following week, the Cats fended off a tenacious Hawthorn by 11 points at the MCG.

This coming Sunday at Skilled Stadium, the latest contender will take on the Cats, as North Melbourne has a crack at inflicting just Geelong's third loss in 41 matches, which will be a remarkable achievement.

Even though anything can happen in a two-horse race, TAB Sportsbet has Geelong starting at $1.20 and North Melbourne at $4.00. As a contest between the two most in-form sides in the competition, this match cannot be dismissed as another certainty for the Cats.

Sure, Geelong deserves to start undoubted favourites. After all, the Cats won their 11th match in a row on Saturday night when they defeated the Sydney Swans by 39 points at ANZ Stadium.

But at Telstra Dome on Sunday, North Melbourne produced another first-class display – and its sixth consecutive win – bouncing back from a six-point quarter-time deficit to blast Carlton away by 51 points.

The past two rounds, in particular, have been exceptional for the Roos, as they have kicked their highest two scores for the season – 21.10 (136) against the Western Bulldogs and 22.9 (141) against Carlton.

This has resulted in 43 goals from the Roos, just one shy of Geelong's 44 majors in the past two rounds, with the Cats achieving score-lines of 24.13 (157) against Melbourne and 20.13 (133) against the Swans.

It means Geelong and North Melbourne are now the only two sides to have bagged 40-plus goals in the past two rounds.

When the two sides last met in round 11, Gary Ablett's stunning 39-disposal performance and Cameron Mooney's seven goals against his former side helped the Cats hold off the Roos by just 13 points.

But at that point, North Melbourne was in the middle of a three-match losing streak and had its heaviest injury toll for the season. The Roos have reversed both aspects considerably since then.

Venturing down the highway to Skilled Stadium won't deter the Kangas either.

The last time the Roos played there was in round five 2007, when they claimed a 16-point win. Incredibly, that was Geelong's third last defeat and it was also the last time the Cats lost two in a row.

It's interesting to note Geelong's second last defeat came against Port Adelaide – just before last year's finals series, at home and in round 21.

Although it's different opposition, it couldn't happen again, at the Cattery and in the second last home-and-away round for the season – could it?

North Melbourne defender Shannon Watt has already stated the side holds "no fears" against Geelong – although understanding and respecting the significance of what the Cats have achieved over 2007-08 – adding some spice in the lead-up to the match.

And the fact the three Brownlow Medal fancies – Ablett, North Melbourne dynamo Brent Harvey and Jimmy Bartel – will also feature in this match, only adds to one almighty, must-see contest.

And dare we say it, the match of the season?

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.