While there are plenty of Round 11 matches that have all the makings of being one-sided, we've still got a number of tantalising contests that could significantly impact the make-up of the top eight come season's end.
The 5-5 Hawks and the 6-4 Power meet in Tasmania on Saturday afternoon, a match which is proving to be a nightmare for tippers around the country. Hawthorn has dropped its last three games but have found themselves in winning positions in all of them while Port Adelaide is making its first appearance since demolishing the Suns in Shanghai a fortnight ago.
Hours later, reigning premier Richmond and a rejuvenated Essendon side face off in the traditional Dreamtime at the 'G clash which is likely to be much tighter than many would have expected two weeks ago.
Then it's over to Collingwood and Fremantle on Sunday afternoon before the injury ravaged Crows and Giants -- who are battling in the midpack of the ladder -- clash in Adelaide to round off the weekend's football.
By Monday morning we're likely to have a much clearer picture of who will be playing finals football this September.
Where exactly are the Bombers?
After a horrendous start to the season Essendon has finally struck some form and is beginning to play like the team many saw as a finals lock before the season started.
A dominant win over Geelong in Round 9 was backed up last week with a comfortable 35 point victory over the Giants at Spotless Stadium to give Bombers fans hope that season 2018 isn't going to be a complete write off.
What's most impressive is that both wins have come without spearhead Joe Daniher who has been sidelined with osteitis pubis since Round 7 and doesn't look to be returning to the field anytime soon. Instead the Bombers have been led by skipper Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis and former Giant Devon Smith who have all elevated their games in recent weeks.
However, as good as Essendon has been the past fortnight, John Worsfold's side is set to face their greatest test of the season when they meet Richmond at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday night in the annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash. It's a match that looms as either a significant reality check for Essendon or proof that finals isn't yet out of the equation. Nevertheless, if the Bombers are to finish the year inside the top eight, you feel this is a game they just have to win.
Recent history suggests Richmond has the edge having won the past six meetings between the two sides but the Tigers have shown some vulnerability in recent weeks. In Round 9 they suffered a 10 goal loss to West Coast before being pushed to the brink a week later against the lowly Saints.
One thing is certain, this game has far more appeal than it did a fortnight ago...
A happy homecoming for the Suns?
Saturday's twilight clash between Gold Coast and Geelong hardly boasts match-of-the-round status but there are several incredibly intriguing sub plots that will be fascinating to follow. Namely:
What impact will the Suns' post-China bye have?
What reception will Gary Ablett receive?
Will the Suns be invigorated by their first true home game of the year?
The Suns should be fresh and ready to rumble having put their feet up after their 40-point loss to Port Adelaide in Shanghai, but byes are often great unknowns when it comes to the regimented, week-by-week world of AFL. Will they come out breathing fire and full of running against the wildly inconsistent Cats? Or will they still be cobweb-laden coming off a two-week hiatus?
One thing's certain, however - Gold Coast will relish the chance to finally grace the field at Metricon Stadium after a hellish opening to the season in which the Commonwealth Games prevented them from playing at home and instead sent Stuart Dew's side to all parts of the country (and overseas). The Suns will be keen to make amends in front of their long-suffering fans, as well as making a point against one-time saviour Ablett, who has been largely subdued since returning to the Cattery ahead of this season.
Co-captain Steven May has already taken a cheeky dig at Ablett, suggesting his former skipper wasn't his chief concern.
"I was talking about that yesterday, saying I'd love to play on Gaz for a bit but (Patrick) Dangerfield is probably a bit more dangerous at the moment," May said. "He (Ablett) won't like that ... but Gaz used to always joke at training he would love to have me in the goal square one-on-one and it could happen this week."
The Suns should be well aware of the dangers of poking the bear. What better way for Ablett to remind everyone he's still a genuine match-winner by putting in a best-on-ground performance in his first game back in sunny Queensland?
Will the top eight be sorted after this round?
Round 11 brings with it the unique situation in which the league's top nine teams will take on the bottom nine -- potentially ending the season of some, and giving much-needed life to others.
Should the ladder stay true to form and the top nine teams beat the bottom nine, it would leave Hawthorn (currently in tenth and four points behind the ninth-placed Port) two games out of the eight and every other team even further back, making it a hard task for any team currently outside the eight to break back in.
Taking a closer look, it would leave the Bombers, Giants, Fremantle and the Dogs further in arrears, putting serious question marks over whether they'll feature in September.
But for a week which at first glance looks a little lopsided, there are a couple of crunch matches worth keeping an eye on.
Hawthorn (10th) hosts Port Adelaide (9th) in Launceston in what is the weekend's most anticipated matchup, while Adelaide (7th) host the injury-plagued Giants (11th) who desperately need a win.
It's just about goodnight for the Giants who, after the bye, still have fixtures against West Coast (currently 1st), Richmond (2nd), Melbourne (3rd) and Sydney (4th). The last thing they'll want is to be 10 points (or three wins) behind the pack heading into the second half of the season.