You can smell it, can't you?

The days have grown longer and the flowers may be blooming, but these signifiers of Spring are all inconsequential to the footballing fanatic.

With the temperature rising, realistically and metaphorically, and the pretenders now separated from the contenders, it can only mean one thing - finals football.

Sure, in a standard season we would only be days away from a do or die clash in front of a packed house at the MCG, but 2020 has proven that tried and true recipes are not to be regarded.

Even though the frenetic home and away season has rounded the bend and passed the post, the job is still ahead of eight clubs in their hunt for the 'Covid Cup'.

With a week off before the season's after party begins, each of the octet of coaches who have received invitations still have chores to perform before the champagne corks can be cracked

From the eighth seed to there first, here are the 2020 premiership contender's โ€˜to do lists'.

3.
Richmond

After playing up and coming off the tracks, many of us have been told by parental figures to pull our heads in and knuckle down. With Richmond's current run of off-field distractions, similar admonishments are no doubt ringing in the playing group's ears.

Since their September success in 2017, the wider footballing public has been made aware of the Tiger's new found culture that is supposedly born of empathy and understanding, but with the recent tone deaf flouts of regulations, it has been suggested that perhaps we have mistaken culture for simply winning. Irrespective of any existing values or not, their victory over the previously barnstorming Cats was the best possible advertisement that they haven't forgotten the recipe to on-field success.

The club's on-field record in the past three seasons is without doubt the current benchmark in the game, so producing isn't the issue, however, can it be guaranteed? The potential concern facing Damian Hardwick is how does he continue to motivate a group that has already tasted success twice?

The other qualm facing the Punt Roaders is how to seamlessly introduce their seasoned talent back into the lineup. Identical to quandary facing the Geelong match committee, Hardwick will know that any potential inclusions, and in turn exclusions, have the capability to disrupt their recent run of success.

Injuries to Ivan Soldo and Tom Lynch do not help the equation either.

On current form, you would need to be brave or stupid to tip against the Tigers, but if there is such a thing as bottled success stored at Tigerland, now is the time to air the contents.