Saturday's visit by Brisbane is a prime example of that, as not many people would have had the Lions as a finalist this year, or in fact as high as second.

But what has gone from a "run of the mill" Launceston fixture has transformed in recent weeks to a clash of blockbuster proportions, with the result set to have ramifications on both those in the eight and those wanting to get into it.

Aside from Friday night's Collingwood and Richmond epic, this is the game likely to have the football world's complete attention, and ironically comes a decade after a similar encounter.

That was round 19, 2009, when the undefeated Saints came to town to battle the reigning premiers, with AFL infamously being quoted as saying the game shouldn't have been played here such was its high quality.

Despite the fact Saints coach Ross Lyon rested seven of his best, St Kilda had a 25-point victory (10.14 to 7.7), in a loss that eventually played a huge part in the Hawks missing the finals after their flag the previous year.

High-flying opposition have not been completely rare in the past decade, with Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney both top when they visited in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

Against the Dockers, the Hawks, who entered in fourth spot, were able to flex their muscles in a comprehensive fashion with a 72-point win (17.13 to 6.7), but things were much closer against the Giants.

In fact scores were level at the final siren (14.13 to 15.7).

In 2002, the third ever game at the ground, Port Adelaide was second when it visited a Hawthorn side sitting outside of the eight, with the visitors winning by 40 points.

The next year in round 12, Port was second, and rose to top, after defeating St Kilda back when the Saints spent time in the city.

St Kilda itself was on top heading into round 14, 2004 when it lost to Port Adelaide, and after in round 19, 2004, after defeating Adelaide.

In 2005, West Coast was first and Adelaide second when they traveled to face Hawthorn, with the visitors winning both.

But the biggest year of "power visitors" had to be in 2007. In order, Geelong were second, West Coast first, North Melbourne second and Port Adelaide third when they visited to face the Hawks.

The Hawks had a 2-2 record from those games, with the wins coming against the Cats and the Eagles.

Sydney was second in its only visit to the city, which ended in a win to those in the red and white as Adam Goodes broke the club's games record.

But these figures don't count the numerous times that Hawthorn found itself in the top two when returning to its "home ground", which is not really a surprise considering the fact it won four premierships in that time.

Eleven times the Hawks have been top two when visiting Launceston (including all four matches in 2008) and twice (in round 8, 2013, and round 14, 2016) wins in Launceston lifted the Hawks into that position at the end of the weekend.