It’s a mouth-watering contest this Friday night when the Bombers takes on Geelong at Etihad Stadium.

Geelong winning the last two matches between these sides have had the edge over the Bombers in recent times, however Essendon recruit Paul Chapman is facing his old side which will add a bit of extra spice to the contest.

Essendonfc.com.au brings you the key match ups against the Cats that Bomber fans can keep a close eye on throughout the contest Friday night.

Michael Hurley vs. Tom Hawkins

Hurley had a great game against the Adelaide after a sub-par performance in the loss to Melbourne. The defender even got the chance to sneak forward and snag a goal from 50 on his left foot.

His opponent this week will be a difficult one as he faces Tom Hawkins. A brut of a man Hawkins is almost impossible to move in a one-on-one contest, yet possesses amazing abilities at his feet, often kicking goals off the ground.

Hurls will need to use his great aerial skills and superb ability to read the flight of the ball if he is to match Hawkins and limit his influence on the game.

Joe Daniher vs. Harry Taylor

At the other end of the ground it will be a fascinating match up as a 148-game, 2-time All-Australian defender is set to take on an 18-game rising star.

It will be a case of the master taking on the apprentice if these two are to cross paths Friday night. Taylor is a proven defender for the Cats and has become their Mr Reliable since the departure of Matthew Scarlett.

Daniher is beginning to give opposition headaches in defence and looks set to last for the next decade or more as he has in a breakout season. Ranked 5^th in the AFL for total contested marks, the 20-year-old has started to show the competition glimpses of his potential.

Taylor will not be taking the budding tall forward, and if Daniher is to take a few big grabs early and kick straight, it will be a massive help towards a Bomber win.

Heath Hocking vs. Steve Johnson

Johnson has become the more preferable target of most opposition taggers when facing the Cats. His ability to set the play up for Geelong- often scoring chains- is important for his side and vital to their game plan.

Johnson’s vision and awareness allow him to sometimes choose not the most obvious option, and at more times than not- the most dangerous option.

Hocking has been in solid form for the Bombers and will need to bring his notorious argy and bargy game style on Johnson, who often gets frustrated with the tag and can gives away the odd silly free-kick or even a senseless report.

Paul Chapman vs. Cameron Guthrie

Guthrie may well have been a player that was under Chapman’s wing at Geelong after being drafted in 2010. Showing promising signs last season, the little nugget of a defender has again taken his game to new heights in 2014.

He remains the Cats’ lock-down small defender, yet shows he has an attacking side- rebounding opposition entries and beginning Geelong attacks from the back half.

While it has been well reported that Chappy is up against his old side, he hasn’t played a lot of footy with Guthrie. The two might have played on each other during an intra-club match due to the sole fact that they play such a similar role at opposite ends of the ground- however this week it will be on for young and old.