One club is built on 141 years of tradition, while the other is the BFNL's new kid on the block.
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The working-class club north of the train tracks against the crew from the more affluent southern suburbs of Bendigo.
Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye come from opposite ends historically and geographically, but when it comes to the BFNL in recent seasons they've achieved the same goal - success.
The Hawks and Storm have clearly been the BFNL's two best teams since 2017.
In that period they've played 12 times across home and away and finals games and the ledger is all square at six wins apiece.
On Saturday they face each other for the first time since the 2019 grand final, which the Storm won by 14 points.
The clash at Canterbury Park holds more weight than their home and away clashes in recent years.
Between 2017 and 2019 we basically knew both sides would finish inside the top three and earn the double-chance for the finals.
2021 is a different story.
The competition is even and the Hawks have already dropped three games this season. To put that into perspective, between 2017 and 2019 they lost eight home and away games in total.
A fourth loss on Saturday would put the Hawks' top three hopes in jeopardy and, for the Storm, create a handy two-game break between the two clubs.
Strathfieldaye is riding a five-game winning streak, but recent history is against the Storm, who haven't beaten Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park since 2015.
"It's been a great rivalry,'' Storm co-coach Darryl Wilson said.
"The two teams are a bit different this year compared to those years (2017-2019), but it still shapes up as a very good game.
"Eaglehawk were really good last week (in a loss to Sandhurst), but their goal kicking was a bit off and that hurt them in the end.
"We don't have a great record at Canterbury Park and we know we've got to keep our momentum going after dropping two games early in the season.
"Eaglehawk has lost three games, but we still rate them very highly."
The Hawks and Storm welcome back their Melbourne-based players for Saturday's game.
The Storm regains Jake Moorhead, Kel Smith, Riley Clarke, Jake Hall and Caleb Sheahan, while the Borough has Billy Evans, Noah Wheeler, Shuan Knott and Lewin Davis back in its senior 22.
Jarrod Findlay (broken arm) and Brodie Filo (unavailable) remain on the sidelines for the big game.
Matheson said the Melbourne quartet couldn't wait to get back on the park after missing the best part of a month of footy.
"I know they were really frustrated to miss last week's game,'' Borough coach Travis Matheson said of the key quartet.
"Everyone at the club is really happy to have them back this week, but to be fair to them they have missed a fair chunk of footy.
"They train together in Melbourne, but when you haven't played for a few weeks you're bound to take a while to find your feet."
Matheson said the magnitude of playing Strathfieldsaye in front of a big home crowd hadn't been lost on his side.
"Everyone is aware of the rivalry,'' Matheson said.
"The main thing for us is that we know what this game means to our season.
"That's what's motivating us for this week.
"There's a really positive feeling amongst the group. I know we're coming off a loss, but the players felt as though we played some good footy last week and we have a few good players coming into the side this week.
"We're really looking forward to Saturday."
The Eaglehawk-Strathfieldsaye clash is the highlight match of what otherwise shapes as an uneventful BFNL round.
Sandhurst takes its unbeaten record down the Calder to the Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Tigers regain their Melbourne-based players, so they should be more competitive than last week's 100-point loss to Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve.
"This game is about us and what we can learn from playing a quality side like Sandhurst,'' Kyneton coach Paul Chapman said.
"Even though we got done by 100 points last week, the thing I enjoyed the most about the game was that we went in with a plan and the young guys executed it.
"While doing that plan we did fall away in some other areas, but when you're coaching a young group and they go out and do it, it makes you pleased.
"Now we're trying to add another string to that bow.
"The guys are really excited about playing against the top team."
The most important addition for the Tigers is former Port Melbourne key forward Guy Dickson, who gives the young Tigers a marking target to kick to inside 50.
"Last week the guys who played as our key forward targets were competitive, but Dicko does straighten us up a bit,'' Chapman said.
Sandhurst regains Melbourne-based Brodie Montague and Alex Wharton, while Collingwood VFL co-captain Lachlan Tardew gets another game with the Dragons because the Pies have the bye.
Golden Square has close to its strongest team of the season for its clash with bottom side Castlemaine at Camp Reserve.
Jake Thrum (broken hand) will miss another six games, but the Dogs welcome back Liam Barrett, Liam Duguid and Brayden Welsh for Saturday's game.
South Bendigo can't afford a slip-up in its home game with Kangaroo Flat.
The Bloods are right in the hunt to play finals this year and must bank the four points against a young Roos' side bubbling with confidence after scoring their first win of the season last week.
In the final game of the round, Gisborne should continue its winning form by accounting for the battling Maryborough at Gardiner Reserve.
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