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There may still be a month until finals kick off, but this week features a number of matches which, in effect, are mini-elimination finals for some teams. The biggest of these "win-or-go-home" fixtures is Essendon's match against Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon. For the Bombers, they simply must keep winning to keep their season alive, even if it is at the expense of the Hawks. Adelaide, too, find themselves in a crunch match. Despite being two games (and percentage) off the mark, a Showdown win keeps the dream alive. Things are really starting to heat up, so here's What To Watch For in Round 20. Riewoldt vs. Hawkins: A power forward struggleIf, as expected, North Melbourne's Ben Brown is able to hang onto his Coleman Medal lead you'd think he would be a shoo-in for a maiden All Australian berth. That likely leaves one key forward slot remaining and Friday night's clash between the Tigers and Cats could very well determine who snags it. Richmond's Jack Riewoldt and Geelong's Tom Hawkins are both proving there is still very much a place in modern football for key forwards. You could mount a strong case that both veterans are currently in career best form as the 2018 season draws into the final phase. Praise will be heaped on Hawkins for his back-to-back seven goal games against the Demons and Lions but the Cats spearhead has been playing at a high level all season. He sits second in the race for the Coleman Medal with 48 goals from just 16 games and has proven to be Geelong's most valuable player. That's no mean feat in a side that boasts the likes of Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. Riewoldt has been equally impressive for Richmond with 44 majors for the season and once again his marking strength and elite pressure has impressed most. The Round 20 opener is a significant game for both clubs. Richmond could lock up a top-two finish while Geelong can't afford to let another game slip or they may fall out of the eight for the second time in three weeks. Expect the two spearheads to have a big say in the outcome.  Why Essendon will trouble HawthornRivalries don't come much bigger than Hawthorn vs. Essendon and when it's essentially a mini-elimination final you can expect plenty of fireworks. After an awful start to the season the Bombers have rocketed into finals contention with six wins from their past seven games. With four rounds remaining, they sit in 11th on the ladder with 40 points, just one game back from the Hawks. Last week Essendon totally outclassed the struggling Swans, running them ragged with their speed and ball movement. The Hawks, like Sydney, lack of pace through the midfield -- while guns, the likes of Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara, Liam Shiels and Shaun Burgoyne aren't renowned for their speed -- and could struggle. The big question for Bombers coach John Worsfold is what he does with raging Brownlow Medal favourite Mitchell. The Hawthorn ball magnet is having a stellar season and this week is aiming to match Gary Ablett Jr as the only player in history to have four consecutive 40+ possession games. One thing is certain; Essendon must pay close attention to him from the opening bounce. It might seem a little left-field but Devon Smith could be the man to shadow him in what would be the AFL's best ball winner up against its best tackler and pressure player. Unlike what Fremantle managed, if he can put pressure on Mitchell around the stoppages, his clearances won't be clean and result in scores for the Hawks. It's easier said than done but if the Bombers can slow Mitchell down, their speed could be enough to keep the fairytale run to September going, at least for another week.  Can the Crows exact some Showdown revenge?The stage is set for one of the more loaded Showdowns in recent times. Port Adelaide have comfortably been the better of the South Australian sides this season, but miraculously, in a year riddled with injuries and numerous off-field dramas, the Crows can still make the finals (even if they'll likely need to rely on other results to do so). In fact, this match-up is almost a complete role-reversal from earlier in the year, when Adelaide was considered by many to be the stronger side with better premiership pedigree. For the Crows, a best-case scenario is they beat the fierce rival in the home leg of the Showdown on Saturday -- a result which would keep their season alive and throw Port's shot at a double chance into jeopardy.  The Power are fourth on the ladder, but with GWS rising quickly, they need to continue winning if they're to shore-up a top-four finish and the double chance. So, in keeping with the role reversal theme, is it beyond the realms of possibility that Don Pyke's charges can snatch a Showdown from under Port's nose, much like the Power did to Adelaide in Round 8?
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