Western Bulldogs v Collingwood Livemovies in cinema

The Bulldogs and Magpies meet at Etihad Stadium on Friday night

WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday May 4, 7.50pm

LAST TIME: Collingwood 15.15 (105) d Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57), round six, 2011, at the MCG

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Given their contrasting playing lists, reputations and hopes for season 2012, it seems hard to digest that just one game and 7.31 per cent separates Collingwood from the Western Bulldogs after five rounds. The injury-hit Magpies are fresh from a last-gasp triumph over Essendon in the Anzac Day thriller while the Bulldogs, after losing the opening three rounds, have won their past two matches, albeit against the still winless Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney. However, a ledger-squaring upset is not completely out of the question on the fast track at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

THE FOUR POINTS

WESTERN BULLDOGS

1. The Bulldogs need to start well. They have lost their past four clashes with Collingwood by an average of 39 points, and in all but one of these games the Magpies have got away to a flyer. The only exception was in their wildly fluctuating round-six contest last year, which the Pies won by eight goals.

2. Ryan Griffen, Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney, Luke Dahlhaus and Justin Sherman are the kind of explosive, line-breaking runners that can melt any defensive press, and their run, or lack thereof, will be critical.

3. Which Magpie superstar should Liam Picken be assigned to - Dane Swan or Scott Pendlebury? Both are in superb touch and equally important to the Pies, but given Swan's Anzac Day heroics he would seem the logical tag target for the persistent Picken. The problem player will be the one released from the Picken chain, and this may alternate.

4. The ruck duel could prove telling, with the Dogs' triple towers of Will Minson, Jordan Roughead and the improving Ayce Cordy aiming to work over veteran Darren Jolly and support man Chris Dawes. The Dogs trio could also be crucial while resting in attack.

COLLINGWOOD

1. Alan Didak, Ben Reid, Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw are all making cases to play after overcoming injuries. They trained on Tuesday, some more than others, but will press their cases later in the week. Could the Pies really recall four premiership players in one hit or will they be more cautious and bring in one or two?

2. Their one-point triumph over Essendon on Anzac Day was not only a thrilling victory but potentially the impetus to turn their season in the right direction. It still wasn't a complete performance but the closest they've had to a four-quarter effort this year, and the trademark Collingwood intensity and spark was back in glimpses.

3. Could the Pies' biggest piece of artillery this week be sitting in the coaches' box? Rodney Eade has been football and coaching strategist - and Nathan Buckley's main mentor - since October last year. It's his first chance to use the wealth of intimate knowledge he possesses of the Bulldogs players and see if he can influence key match-ups.

4. Three weeks ago, the headlines about Collingwood centred around alleged infighting, an ugly stoush between the former coach and current president and a deepening injury crisis. Since then, they've won two games and the rehab list is shortening. It's the perfect opportunity this Friday night to capitalise and build momentum with the round eight Grand Final rematch in sight.

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