THE TIDE has turned for Lance Franklin in his heavyweight duel with Alex Rance ahead of his 100th game in red and white on Thursday night.

The Sydney superstar, with 891 goals in the bag, and Richmond's four-time All Australian defender remain the AFL's premier players in their positions – and have been for some time.

Their annual bouts are the modern era's answer to the captivating '90s clashes between all-time greats Wayne Carey and Glen Jakovich, the winner of which was often in the eye of the beholder.

Franklin, 31, is arguably slightly behind Rance, 28, in their head-to-head match-ups since both were established, but is making up ground despite the Tiger taking the honours last year.

The Swan's 11-mark, seven-goal masterpiece in the last round two years ago gave him the points in three of the previous four contests, a significant response to consecutive canings in 2012 and 2013.

The earlier game that year saw Franklin boot five goals without a miss, but it was Rance's Richmond that won the night by one point.

"I always enjoy the battle with 'Buddy' – we respect each other a lot," Rance said after that particular match.

"After the game, we shook hands. But when we're out here, we're pretty fierce competitors. He was kicking straight today … I was pretty filthy."

Rance – long separated from being the maligned defender with suspect kicking skills – only shaded Franklin in the other match in that period, with the former Hawk fading after a strong start.

Where Franklin can lose lesser opponents with his remarkable athleticism for his size, the Tiger's positioning, timing, work-rate, general smarts and own speed makes him an ideal combatant.

Rance's five-centimetre deficit in height doesn't tend to be a major factor either, because Franklin's strength isn't his overhead marking.

But Franklin's edge in strength – watch their wrestling match last year after the Swan's report for flattening Connor Menadue – and ability to get to an enormous number of contests troubles even Rance.

That wrestle wasn't their only notable stoush that day, with Rance infamously going to ground far too easily off a Franklin shove and earning a dubious free kick.

The storylines are endless for one of football's last great one-on-one showdowns.

There is no David in this all-Goliath battle, and we will undoubtedly be enthralled once more on Thursday night.