When the GIANTS take to the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday it will be just their eighth match at the home of football, and almost certainly, their biggest.

The GIANTS are set for a fourth v fifth battle for a spot in the top four, potentially in front of the biggest crowd they’ve ever played in front of. That record is currently 44,770 people when the GIANTS took on Adelaide at Adelaide Oval last year.

In their three and a half years of existence, the GIANTS have played at the MCG seven times for six losses and a win.

The AFL’s newest team’s maiden win came against the AFL’s oldest team when the GIANTS knocked off Melbourne by 64 points in a remarkable round 21 match last year.

In still one of the best wins in their history, the GIANTS won the game with co-captains Callan Ward (calf) and Phil Davis (concussion) taking no part in the second half of the match.

Key forward Jonathon Patton went down with a serious knee injury in the final quarter and the young side were already missing the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Lachie Whitfield, Tom Scully, Stephen Coniglio and Tim Mohr.

It was a big turnaround from the first time the GIANTS played at the ‘G when they were beaten by Melbourne by 78 points in round 13, 2012. Just two rounds later they would suffer their worst-ever loss when Hawthorn thrashed them by a massive 162 points.

The GIANTS have played Collingwood three times in their history and once at the MCG for a 40-point loss back in 2013. During that game GIANTS forward Jeremy Cameron put his name up in lights with a career-high seven-goal performance that surely contributed to his All Australian selection later that year.

Vice-captain Heath Shaw, a former Magpie, has played in some of the biggest games of the past decade but believes this week’s clash is certainly one of the most important for his new club.

“It’s an important game in regards to where we are on the ladder and our season as well,” Shaw said.

“It’s a good test for this group. I think we enjoy the challenge of playing big teams in front of big crowds. When we get that opportunity it’s great for a young group and it’s exciting as well.

“Playing on the MCG for the first time this year in front of a big crowd in a big game, it’s pretty easy to get up for.”

So does he think there’ll be any nerves for his young teammates with the majority having played on the home of football just a handful of times?

“For them, maybe. I think the guys are more excited about the prospect,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who are from Melbourne. They love getting back home, love playing on the MCG - That’s sort of what they wanted to do as a kid.

“It’s great to get back there and when you get the bonus of playing against Collingwood on the MCG on a Sunday arvo, it’s really exciting stuff and hopefully we put on a really, really good performance.”

The GIANTS take on Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon. The game will be live on 7mate and Fox Footy from 1pm.