Two of the competition's best midfields will go head-to-head when Geelong hosts Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Thursday night from 8.10pm AEST.

Little has separated the two sides in their previous three encounters, with an average winning margin of just 13 points.

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Fans can expect another close contest once again with wet conditions expected and set to play a part.

How the teams stack up

Highest Scoring: Geelong (1st) v Collingwood (8th)

Total Disposals: Geelong (3rd) v Collingwood (1st)

Clearances: Geelong (3rd) v Collingwood (6th)

Contested Possessions: Geelong (5th) v Collingwood (4th)

Hit-outs: Geelong (10th) v Collingwood (1st)

Patrick Dangerfield v Taylor Adams

With wet weather forecast for tonight, the midfield battle is where the game will be won. Whichever side can get on top in this area and win the contested ball will give their forwards the best chance of kicking a winning score.

Two players that will be crucial in this area for either side will be Patrick Dangerfield and Taylor Adams.

Both have a fierce appetite for the contest and are rated elite for centre clearances.

Dangerfield was best-on-ground last start for the Cats and is ranked sixth in the competition for contested possessions this year.

Adams has also done well in this area ranked second at Collingwood behind Brodie Grundy.

Both men like to impact the scoreboard too, they have each kicked four goals, with Dangerfield holding a slight advantage over Adams in total score involvements (34 to 30).

Darcy Fort v Brodie Grundy

Darcy Fort has been getting better with each performance but in game number eight he will face his biggest challenge yet opposed to Brodie Grundy.

Fort produced career-best disposal and clearance numbers in last week's win against the Lions, and the Cats will need similar output once again.

Grundy is the best in the business at giving his midfielders first look. He is ranked number one in the competition for total hit-outs. He also has an impact around the ground and is ranked first at Collingwood for goal assists, contested marks and contested possessions.  

Fort doesn't need to win his matchup, but if he can halve as many contests as possible and have an impact around the stoppages, the Cats will stand a greater chance of recording their fourth straight win.

Tom Hawkins/Esava Ratugolea v Darcy Moore

Opposition sides have struggled to regularly penetrate the Collingwood defence this season and leading the charge for them in this area is Darcy Moore. 

The key defender is not only brilliant one-on-one, but he is highly influential for the Pies with his ability to read the play, intercept mark the ball and use it creatively off half back.

Expect Tom Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea to take him to the top of the square at every opportunity. 

Both key forwards are in good form. Hawkins kicked three goals last week, while Ratugolea has been marking everything in the air in leads the club for contested marks this season.