Around November each year, the NRL dials up their algorithm and it spits out the draw for the upcoming season.
Not often does it produce the perfectly curated night of footy, but in Round 25, that is exactly what fans are getting.
Friday night football features two blockbuster matchups between premiership heavyweights.
The first game will see the first placed Raiders take on the fifth placed Panthers. According to bookmakers, the reigning four-time premiers have the shortest odds to finish in fourth when all is said and done in the regular season.
In the later game, the Bulldogs make the hardest road trip in rugby league, as they head down to Melbourne to challenge the Storm.
There is every chance that these matchups will be the first round of qualifying finals, giving pundits a chance to analyse the head-to-head before the real pressure of the playoffs begin.
MORE: Does the NRL have an injury crisis?
Friday night football preview
Panthers vs. Raiders - Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
These two sides have had completely different trajectories in 2025.
The rhetoric around Penrith went from discussing the possibility of a 'five-peat', to everyone quickly dumping Panthers stock as they sunk to the bottom of the ladder, and now they're all the back to where they started.
The Raiders on the other hand have gone from favourites for the wooden spoon, to fending off contenders as they make their final bid to steal the minor premiership from them.
The two sides will match up for the first time this season as they head to Mudgee for a rare regional showdown.
Ricky Stuart's men have enjoyed the fruits of continuity, as they line up 1-17 for the third game in a row.
As for the Panthers, they will be awaiting a medical update from Isaah Yeo, who is in the extended squad and looking to return from a shoulder injury.
The green machine has a style that can make things difficult for a Penrith outfit who have become renowned for their formulaic playing style.
Canberra has made a habit of scoring long-range tries by way of their youthful and dynamic backline.
That's only possible because of the foundations that are laid by what is arguably the strongest forward-pack in the competition.
For the Panthers, they'll be hoping to continue their form of high completion rates. They will then turn to Nathan Cleary to kick the ball high and into the corners of the field.
From there, Ivan Cleary will be wanting his side to muscle-up defensively as they try to grind-out a young Raiders outfit who haven't faced much adversity so far this season.
Prediction: Raiders by 6
Storm vs. Bulldogs - AAMI Park, Melbourne
Despite it looking likely to be a dry track in Melbourne, don't expect many points to be on offer in this game.
These are the two best defensive teams in the NRL and with Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes sidelined, it could turn into trench warfare at AAMI Park.
The Storm are riding the momentum of winning a golden-point thriller against Penrith last week.
Whereas the Bulldogs have been licking their wounds since their 20-point beatdown at the hands of the Roosters.
Again, these two sides haven't faced each other yet in 2025 making this game the only chance to look at how they match up before they possibly meet again come finals time.
The Bulldogs' remodelled spine will want to play fast over the advantage line, and capitalise on the second-phase generated by their skilful and mobile forwards.
There will be a lot of pressure on Burton and Galvin to kick well as they look to turn around a more physical Storm pack.
Once fatigue enters the contest, the x-factor for the Bulldogs will be their strike centres Bronson Xerri and Stephen Crichton; who they will look to turn back on the inside to create favourable one-on-ones with Storm defenders that out on their feet.
Craig Bellamy will be preaching a simple game plan for Jonah Pezet and Tyran Wishart to try to execute in place of their regular spine combination.
Melbourne has preyed on teams who struggle to make good first contact. They have the second most post-contact metres of any side in the competition and Harry Grant loves to get out and probe the defensive line off the back of that.
No matter who lines up for Melbourne on Friday night, they're always a tough out, especially on home turf.
Prediction: Storm by 2