The match-up of star Richmond key defender Alex Rance and Essendon’s talented, young, tall key forward Joe Daniher shapes as a major highlight of  this Saturday’s Round 17 match between the two teams at the MCG.

Rance, the Tigers’ reigning Jack Dyer Medallist, is in line for a third consecutive All-Australian blazer, while Daniher has kicked 24 goals so far this season and generated plenty of excitement among the Bomber faithful with his top-class marking ability.

Richmond assistant coach Ben Rutten rates Daniher highly.

“He’s a really important player to them . . . one of the really good forwards in the competition.  ‘Rancey’ obviously is a very good player, but he’s going to have his work cut out for him,” Rutten said on this week’s edition of Roar Vision’s ‘Opposition Analysis’.

“His reach and his height is obviously the big key to him, so Rancey will be trying to do what he can to stop him being able to jump at the ball. 

“Often, against guys like Daniher, the contest is won and lost before the mark’s taken.  So I think that’s the best way to get Daniher.”

Essendon’s willingness to bring the ball through the centre corridor (ranked No. 1 in the competition for this), is something the Tigers are planning to counter.

“They’ve got some speed off half-back . . . Their ability to run-and-carry through the half-back region’s a real strength of theirs,” Rutten said.

“It’s got a lot to do with our ability to force them wide and slow them down a little bit.

“It’s going to be our defensive principles, right from the ability to stand the mark and hold them up.  Our set-up behind the ball’s going to be really important.”

Rutten identified young gun midfielder Zach Merrett as another major positive for Essendon.

“He’s been a real shining light.  He’s a quality player and we can’t underestimate him, along with the experienced players they’ve still got in their midfield,” Rutten said.

One of those quality experienced midfielders is David Zaharakis, who returns to the Bombers’ line-up for Saturday’s encounter following a one-match suspension.

“He’s really good around the contest and with his ability to win clearances, Rutten said.

“Hopefully we can get some ruck dominance in there, and our midfielders can compete really well against him.”