Fremantle, long the AFL's downtrodden underdogs, are chasing an elusive maiden premiership with a wave of purple support behind them.
In the Dockers' way are Brisbane, the ominous back-to-back premiers attempting to become just the third side in the past 69 years to complete an AFL premiership three-peat.
Fremantle have just three players - former Tiger Shai Bolton, ex-Demon Luke Jackson and former Collingwood big man Mason Cox - who have tasted premiership glory.
In contrast, only two Lions - recruits Sam Draper and Oscar Allen - have not won a flag.
"We can't really worry about what Brisbane have got on their side," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.
"We understand they've been here the last three times, they've got a lot of experience.
"But what we've tried to do is bridge the gap and give our players an understanding of what the week presents and prepare them for that. Then lean into the normalities of the week as well.
"There's a lot of normal in the week, and the normal parts of the week have got us to this stage. So we've tried to lean in on that as much as we can."
Longmuir and captain Alex Pearce have urged their players to embrace the experience.
"I've thought about this moment for a number of years," ex-Dockers ruckman Longmuir said of the prospect of Fremantle winning the premiership.
"It would fill me with great pride to be able to do that."
Lions mentor Chris Fagan, who will coach his fourth consecutive grand final amid speculation he could retire, played down the importance of experience.
"Maybe it helps a little bit, but not much," he said.
"... It's not something that we've homed in on this week."
The appeals board's massive call to overturn Brisbane star Lachie Neale's one-match striking ban meant defender Noah Answerth missed out.
Fremantle opted against injury-prone defender Brennan Cox in favour of journeyman Oscar McDonald.
Up to 8mm of rain has been forecast for Melbourne on Saturday, with a very high chance of showers tipped for the morning and afternoon.
If more than 3mm falls, it will be the wettest grand final day since Brisbane's win over Collingwood in 2002.
Neither team appears likely to be prompted into late alterations to their carefully laid plans.
"We haven't spoken about a late change, but (we'll) make sure we prepare the players for it," Longmuir said.
"They're aware of the conditions, and we'll need to adjust certain things, but no late change I wouldn't have thought."
Fagan concurred with the Dockers' approach.
"(It's the) same with us," he said.
"We get to play in the wet a bit up in Queensland. Even when it's not raining, it can get slippery up there, so we're sort of accustomed to that.
"And every now and then we train wet-weather footy, so I think both teams will take it in their stride."
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