Carlton are a chance to play in the AFLW finals for the first time in three years and it's their bitter rivals Collingwood who are blocking their path.
With a long-standing rivalry between the two clubs in the men’s competition, the feud is beginning to find its own life in the women's league.
Carlton outclassed Collingwood in the first three years, before the Magpies flipped the script in 2020.
The Blues have lost every meeting since and have faded to the bottom half of the ladder, while their cross-city rivals have consistently made finals appearances.
Now under a rebuild, Carlton have a chance to recapture more than just bragging rights.
With four rounds left of this year’s home-and-away season, just four points and percentage separate the fourth-placed Brisbane Lions from 13th-placed Fremantle.
Fresh off two consecutive wins, the Blues (4-2) sit sixth on percentage, while the Magpies (3-3) are 11th.
Carlton's Darcy Vescio knows there is plenty on the line this weekend, especially with Collingwood key defenders Stacey Livingstone and Selena Karlson suspended for rough conduct.
"It’s a very exciting time of the year. Round seven, you’re starting to head towards the business end of the season," the Blues midfielder said on Wednesday.
"Coming into the club seven years ago, we were told that we hate Collingwood.
"As the season goes on, that becomes more true. We respect them but there’s definitely a rivalry there.
"Before the season started, it was kind of like we were all redrafted to Carlton and had the opportunity to become what we wanted to become.
"I feel like every game, we’re getting a little bit better. There’s hunger to learn."
But with the Magpies on a high after pulling off an upset win over Brisbane last round, forward Sarah Rowe is confident her side can do it again to scrape back into the top eight.
"There’s a lot of momentum from the weekend and we’re just really excited to get a good team performance," she said.
"Definitely puts us in a better position this weekend and we’re excited for the rivalry.
"Every year, it’s always a great game between Carlton and Collingwood."
