Essendon face Collingwood for the second time this season after an ANZAC Day encounter where Collingwood finished 23-point victors.

This weekend’s match has a much more riding on the result than back in round six as Essendon sit just one game outside the eight and away from Collingwood. A win over the Pies could see the Bombers replace them in the top eight.

We look ahead to Sunday at some of the important match ups that will have a big impact on the result come the final siren.

Heath Hocking vs. Scott Pendlebury

While Dane Swan dominated last time these two teams met, expect the Bomber tagger to follow the Collingwood skipper around Sunday afternoon.

Hocking has been in good form including last weeks match where he had the job on the Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak and kept him to a modest 22 disposals, limiting his influence on the contest. And it won’t get any easier for the shut-down king as he locks horns with the smooth-moving Scott Pendlebury.

Pendlebury remains the most dangerous Magpie. He averages almost 29 dispoals and a goal a game this year and continues to lead from the front. The 26-year-old has an amazing ability to find the ball in traffic and dish it out to a teammate seamlessly at almost every contest.

Dyson Heppell vs. Brent Macaffer

On the other side of the tagging coin Magpie Brent Macaffer is likely to latch onto smooth-moving young Bomber Dyson Heppell.

Hepp has begun to embrace the tag from oppositions and has handled it well so far. He was a bit down on the usual output during last weeks big win over Port Adelaide and will be looking to make a big comeback against the Pies.

Macaffer has now become the man to famously finish Gary Ablett’s season early by dislocating his shoulder in a bone-crunching tackle during their close loss to the Suns last weekend.

Macaffer will be looking for another victim and Heppell has not shied away from the prospect of going head-to-head saying he is looking forward to the challenge.

Cale Hooker vs. Travis Cloke

Back in round six on ANZAC Day, it’s fair to say Travis Cloke had an absolute shocker. Dropping easy marks and missing simple goals, it was a day he’d rather forget. However, credit to the big man, he has turned his form around and has been on fire in recent weeks- kicking 14 goals in the last four weeks alone.

Hooker himself has been in great form this season often getting the big job on opposition forwards and getting it done. He will have his hands full come Sunday afternoon, but will definitely take his game on ANZAC Day into consideration when matching up on Cloke, knowing that he’s done the job before.

This match up could be vital to the outcome of the match as Cloke continues to loom as a barometer for the Pies.

Zach Merrett vs. Tom Langdon

These two first-year gems could very well find themselves going head-to-head Sunday in an intriguing match up.

Merrett has gone from strength-to-strength since his debut in the side round one and looks to be a long-term prospect for the Bombers with his hard-running stints in the midfield as well as excellent goal sense when he pushes into the forward half.

Langdon has become a constant in Collingwood’s defence missing just one game this season. His exceptional aerial and decision-making skills have seen him become a valuable member of the Magpie team and arguably the favourite to win this year’s Rising Star award.

This Sunday’s match up could be the start of something that evolves for the next decade.