THE ADELAIDE-GEELONG preliminary final clash at Adelaide Oval on Friday night will see the two best teams across the premiership season square off for a place in this year's Grand Final.

The sides each have one win and one loss from their two meetings this season, with Geelong defeating Adelaide by 22 points at Simonds Stadium in round 11 and the Crows taking the points (21-point win) in the return bout at Adelaide Oval in round 18. 

The Cats have won four of the past five contests against the Crows by an average margin of 29 points. 

However, after being the best side all year Adelaide is favourite to triumph and book its place in the decider for the first time since 1998. 

AFL.com.au has looked at the key questions/issues to look out for in Friday night's blockbuster game. 

1. Does Dangerfield start up forward again?
Where superstar Cat Patrick Dangerfield lines up at the opening bounce for Friday night's match will be fascinating. Dangerfield booted four first-half goals against the Swans as the element of surprise worked in Geelong's favour. The Crows will have had the week to plan for such an occurrence, so it would be prudent for the Cats to start Dangerfield in the midfield and get him to set the tone against his former side in what will be a hostile environment. Expect Dangerfield to spend plenty of time up forward, however the flow of the game is likely to dictate his midfield-forward split. Luke Brown or Jake Kelly appear to be the most suitable match-up for the Brownlow medallist, however they face nervous moments if the Cats are able to isolate that match-up deep. 

2. Can Brodie Smith's drive from defence be easily replaced?
The short answer is no. Smith is crucial to Adelaide's rebound transition game from defensive 50 and, after tearing his ACL against GWS, he will be a huge loss for the Crows. With Smith out, look for the Cats to put a lot of work into All Australian defender Rory Laird. Laird is Adelaide's setup man from the back half, ranking No.7 in the AFL for total disposals and rebound 50s. He runs hard to create and makes good decisions with the footy, often taking the game on through the corridor. The Cats should look to filter the footy through Laird's direct opponent to make him accountable. They should also look to be physical with him as well and test him out in that area. Expect David Mackay and Paul Seedsman to spend some time at half-back in Smith's absence. 

3. Will Adelaide be affected by its unusual preparation?
It has to be, but Adelaide has taken all necessary measures to minimise the impact. The game against the Cats will be Adelaide's second game in the space of 26 days following its round 23 clash against West Coast on August 27. The pre-finals bye was followed by Adelaide's 36-point win over GWS on September 7, after which the Crows had another week's break before the preliminary final against Geelong. The Crows switched things up and went to the Gold Coast for a couple of days last week for a training camp and some rest and relaxation. They then had an intense match simulation session on Saturday, with Mitch McGovern injuring his hamstring as a result. Geelong meanwhile has played three games over the last three weeks after losing to Richmond in the first week of the finals. Continuity and routine is important for players, so it will be interesting to see how much the lengthy break between games affects the Adelaide players. 

4. Brad Crouch could be Adelaide's most influential midfielder
Rory Sloane and All Australian Matt Crouch have quite rightly earned plenty of plaudits for outstanding seasons for Adelaide. Their performances on Friday night will have a major bearing on the result. However, with Geelong likely to pay close attention to both Sloane and Matt Crouch, older brother Brad is likely to benefit the most. Scott Selwood and Mark Blicavs, after his superb job on Sydney's Josh Kennedy last week, are likely to reprise defensive roles on Sloane and Matt Crouch. After a shocking injury run, Brad Crouch is finally healthy and in good form. He's tough in the clinches and doesn't let the pressure get to him. The Crows have shown plenty of faith in him, despite his injury troubles, and he has the capacity to deliver in big games.

5. Geelong has to prove its performance against the Swans was not just one 'out of the box'
The Cats finished top-two for a reason and they proved that against Sydney last week. But the doubts about Geelong have persisted all season and a win over minor premier Adelaide would silence plenty of the doubters. The Crows are the No.1 side in the AFL for contested possessions, so the No.4 ranked Cats must match it with them in this area if they are to cause an upset. Geelong was +25 in that category against Sydney, despite Patrick Dangerfield spending almost the entire first half up forward. In the two meetings between the sides this year, the Cats were +34 in contested ball in a 22-point win at Simonds Stadium in round 11, while the Crows won the important stat, 154-145, when they won by 21 points at Adelaide Oval in round 18. On that occasion, the Crows were also +20 in clearances as Adelaide's midfield got well on top. The engine room battle will be pivotal in determining Friday night's result.