Standing on the verge of history, Jamie Whincup will have to smash Scott McLaughlin's dream of a maiden Supercars championship to win an unprecedented seventh title.
McLaughlin enters the weekend's final round in Newcastle 30 points adrift of Whincup.
The 24-year-old Kiwi's failure to finish the Bathurst 1000 is the blip that could stop an outstanding season translating to his first title.
McLaughlin admitted the cordial pre-race formalities with Whincup were "weird" but not unusual, as the two men prepare to lock horns in the title fight's climax.
"At the end of the day we've had a fantastic year.