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Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd and former pupil David Hussey, now coaching the Melbourne Stars, will square off in the BBL clash at the MCG.
Greg Shipperd has proven the BBL's super-coach in more ways than one, with his impact extending far beyond the Sydney Sixers' push for a third straight title.
Sixers allrounder Dan Christian has described Shipperd as cricket's "Wayne Bennett", and it's easy to see why.
Shipperd, 65, has kept one step ahead of Twenty20 trends since taking charge of the Sixers in 2015.
Shipperd's longevity is perhaps best reflected by the fact Ricky Ponting regards the former Tasmania and Victoria coach as one of three mentors to have had a major influence on him.
And it is remarkable how Shipperd has helped so many players and assistants rise up the coaching ranks, as is the case with Bennett and four-time AFL premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
Wednesday night's MCG clash will pit master against apprentice, when Shipperd's Sixers take on David Hussey's Melbourne Stars.
The vast majority of Hussey's productive Victorian career came under Shipperd's tutelage.
"He was known as my other son," Shipperd told AAP.
"We've had a really close tie, being ex-West Australians together, from day one.
"I'm going to have some wins over him and he's going to have some wins over me.
"We still have coffees, breakfasts. We're great friends; the game is the game, but you can't beat friendship."
Hussey isn't alone.
Andrew McDonald, who is Justin Langer's right-hand man and expected to be Australia's next coach, also caught the coaching bug after playing under Shipperd.
As did Ponting, Victoria coach Chris Rogers, Melbourne Renegades mentor David Saker, Hobart Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith and Adelaide Strikers assistant Cameron White.
Shipperd is pleased Hussey went down the coaching path.
"I always sort of nudged him in that direction," the Stars' inaugural coach said.
"He was never a player that you knew for certain was going to coach.
"He's got a terrific cricket brain and a nice relaxed personality, that suits the modern-day coaching profile.
"He's done a great job with the Stars and obviously in the IPL (as part of Kolkata's brains trust), and I'm sure he will get other opportunities along the way."
Shipperd, who helped deliver Victoria four Sheffield Shield titles plus four T20 crowns in the state-based incarnation of the Big Bash, admitted the MCG will always trigger memories of "a great part of my cricketing life".
"I still have a great fondness and respect for a lot of the people still there and players that I've coached," he said.
Shipperd added the Sixers, recently overwhelmed by Matthew Wade's "absolute blinder" knock of 93, are wary of the similar threat posed by renowned six-hitters Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Andre Russell.
