Essendon and North Melbourne will lock horn on Saturday night in a do-or-die elimination final at the MCG.

Both teams made several changes to their line ups as Luke McDonald, Michael Firrito, Levi Greenwood, Lindsay Thomas and Todd Goldstein into the North Melbourne team at the expense of Lachlan Hansen, Daniel Currie, Aaron Mullet, Mason Wood and Leigh Adams.

While the Bombers bought in David Myers and Ariel Steinberg with Patrick Ambrose and Orazio Fantasia the unlucky pair to miss out.

The cut-throat final between these two evenly matched teams produces a number of key match ups that are sure to have a major influence on which team will be sent packing for the season or lining up in a semi-final against Geelong.

Mark Baguley vs. Lindsay Thomas

Lindsay Thomas booted four goals when these two teams met in round one, and has shown over his 150-game career that he can turn matches in North Melbourne’s favour up forward.

After kicking 39 goals for the season, Thomas has endured a quieter than usual patch over the last fortnight, kicking just two goals. However, the livewire forward will be looking to turn it around on the big stage.

In game number 50, Mark Baguley is expected to have the big job on Thomas. After an unlucky collision to the face late in last weekend’s match, Baguley has proved himself fit to tackle the Roos. The defensive-nut will be attempting to emulate his trademark relentless pressure down back for the Dons, laying several bone-crunching tackles.

Brendon Goddard vs. Nick Dal Santo

The two former-Saints will face off again in different colours and are expected to cross paths on a number of occasions throughout the midfield. Goddard and Dal Santo have enjoyed solid seasons for their respective teams, averaging 23.2 and 24.3 disposals a game respectively.

Both have considerable finals experience after several seasons with St. Kilda, which included three grand final appearances. With over 400 games between them, they will no doubt be figures to follow on the finals stage.

Jobe Watson vs. Andrew Swallow

The two captains are looming as a telling head-to-head match up on Saturday night. Both are beasts inside the contest, and can be often found at the bottom of a pack feeding the ball to teammates on the outside.

The North Melbourne skipper has been a key cog in the Roos midfield for a considerable period of time, and will be a tough man to get through on Saturday night as he averages eight tackles a match in his last three games.

Watson has been flawless in return after a lengthy mid-season injury lay off, averaging 25 disposals and a goal a game since returning in round 21. He will once again lead the Bombers into a finals campaign and is sure to leave no stone unturned come the final siren.

Cale Hooker vs. Drew Petrie

Fresh from being selected in the 40-man All-Australian squad, Cale Hooker is expected to take on North Melbourne big-man Drew Petrie on Saturday night in a telling match-up.

After a below-par season for Petrie, the veteran is sure to come out firing on the big stage for the Roos as proven performer with 266 games of experience.

Hooker has arguably been the premier full-back in 2014, shutting out the leading tall forwards week after week and will no-doubt carry his home-and-away form into the elimination final for the Bombers.

Zach Merrett vs. Luke McDonald

The two young-guns in their first season will be lucky enough to compete in their first finals campaign on Saturday night, with the nerves sure to be flowing.

McDonald finished third in the Rising Star award during the week after cementing a spot in the Roos’ defensive, playing an integral role. He has averaged 17.2 disposals and almost four marks a game, showing glimpses of what’s to come for North Melbourne fans.

Merrett has had an equally impressive debut season, averaging over 15 disposals a match, as well as booting 11 goals in 19 games played. His impressive goal-sense and precision skills has also seem him cement a spot in the Bomber forward line.