Light Fantastic leads 1-0 but Weekend Hussler gets his chance to square the ledger in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
Not for the first time this spring and by no means the last, the pair will play the starring role on the nine-race program at Flemington.
Despite being beaten by Light Fantastic when the pair last met in the Liston Stakes three weeks ago, Weekend Hussler will again start favourite at Flemington.
One punter has already shelled out $100,000 at $2 with Sportingbet Australia for Weekend Hussler, who has firmed from $2.10 on Thursday to $1.90 on Friday afternoon.
If punters can snaffle $1.90 on race day they will be doing well.
"Judging by the support here in comparison to last time they raced, the money is running five to one in Weekend Hussler's favour," said TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie.
Ross McDonald's superstar was hampered by a foot abscess ahead of the Liston but there have been no such scares heading into the Makybe Diva Stakes. This time, the cards are stacked in his favour.
Being his third run this campaign, Weekend Hussler should have the edge in fitness over Light Fantastic, who will enter the Makybe Diva second-up.
The barrier draw was also friendly to Weekend Hussler, who has drawn ideally in gate five as opposed to Light Fantastic' nine, though all horses will come in one stall following the scratching of Mission Critical.
Trainer Mick Price said Light Fantastic, to be ridden by Craig Newitt, would push forward.
The daunting alternative would be to settle out the rear and try and out-sprint the fitter Weekend Hussler giving him several lengths start at the 600m mark.
With Mission Critical out, Zarita was the only other logical frontrunner, but it would not surprise if the favoured duo settled one-two.
However the race is run, only monumental bad luck would prevent the pair from running the quinella. Weekend Hussler, with his edge in fitness and the kinder barrier draw, will be the one to beat.
Zarita, unbeaten at her two starts over the mile, looms as the best of the rest over this distance, ahead of Master O'Reilly and Kibbutz, who will find the wide spaces of Flemington more to his liking than Caulfield.
In-form South Australian sprinter Grand Duels can make it two on the trot when he lines up in the G3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m). He won over the same course and distance last start and prior to that ran third to Weekend Hussler in the Newmarket Handicap in March.
But any one of Swick, Tesbury Jack, Serious Speed and emerging pair Sunburnt Land and Stavka could also win without surprising.
Mark Kavanagh's smart mare Devil Moon has been backed strongly to win back-to-back Let's Elope Stakes (1400m). She flies second up and ran a bottler when resuming over 1200m at Caulfield three weeks ago.
Star Sydney mare Mimi Lebrock can threaten, while the David Hayes-trained Translate and the in-form Princess Gisella, who is shooting for a fourth straight win, are also dangers.
Also worth watching will be the G3 Danehill Stakes which features Lee Freedman's $2 million colt Time Thief.
Unlucky galloper Leica Falcon and Dolphin Jo, who ran fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup, will run in the Voodoo Handicap (2000m) where early cups spruik Cholula will sart favourite ahead of Danny O'Brien's Gallopin.
In Sydney, the main race is the G2 Chelmsford Stakes which has attracted only five runners.
Doncaster winner Triple Honour, with Glen Boss aboard, should prove too strong for Gallant Tess and Kishkat.
And in the G2 Furious Stakes, favourite Samantha Miss must overcome a wide draw to overcome Golden Slipper placegetter Portillo, Glowlamp and Kimillsy.
Lucky Wu
Makybe Diva Stakes
Weekend Hussler
Light Fantastic
Zarita
Master O'Reilly
Chelmsford Stakes
Triple Honour
Gallant Tess
Kishkat
Annenkov
Hands and Heals
Makybe Diva Stakes
Weekend Hussler
Light Fantastic
Dealer Principal
Kibbutz
Chelmsford Stakes
Triple Honour
Gallant Tess
Kishkat
Annenkov