The corresponding fixture two years ago decided the wooden spoon in 2022.
Tigers edged ahead that day in an absolute thriller, and since then the clubs have trended in opposition directions.
Tigers are serious contenders for a drought-breaking premiership. They are the only team to have beaten leaders Cutters.
Hawks are still searching for their first win since round 1, 2022 and have fallen agonisingly short numerous times.
Could this clash be another one with massive ramifications for the participants?
Prediction: Tigers by 36.
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs host South Cairns Cutters
HOW will the Dogs respond after perhaps their most disappointing performance of the year last week?
In a match they simply had to win to maintain their finals hopes, their performance was mired by poor skills and ill-discipline.
They eventually showed their quality in a scintillating six-goal, 15-minute burst in the fourth, but left their run too late.
Realistically, they will probably have to play like that all game to have a chance against the stand-out team of the competition.
Cutters are coming off their toughest trip, outlasting Port up the highway, which went a long way to sealing a home qualifying final.
They will want to fix up their accuracy though.
They lost a game kicking 6.14 and went 11.16 in their seven-point victory last week.
Prediction: Cutters by 43.
Cairns City Lions host Cairns Saints
CITY Lions continue their surge back into finals footy in season 2024, winning last week by 137 points.
They need to keep winning to stay in touch with third, and a home elimination final.
The raucous ITEC Group Oval crowd is appreciating a return to the style of footy they have become accustomed to and will know their team will be a headache for any opposition come finals.
They will have to outlast a resurgent Saints team, coming off their best win of the season.
They only ended up winning by three goals in a game they truly dominated for three and a half quarters, but if they can fix up their accuracy (kicking 10.19 to keep the Dogs in it), they could be the party poopers for the rest of the season.
Prediction: Saints by 23.
