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The Adelaide Crows have learnt one lesson already from the AFL finals - theres no such thing as favourites.Adelaide enter Saturday nights elimination final against North Melbourne as raging favourites - as were West Coast, who got trounced by the Western Bulldogs in Thursday nights knockout game in Perth.History says in finals anyone is a chance, Adelaide assistant coach Scott Camporeale told reporters on Friday.Its a 50-50 ball game and if you allow the opposition to play how they want to play, its going to be very difficult.Bookies have listed the Crows at $1.17 while rating the Kangaroos as $5.25 long shots to prevail in the Adelaide Oval eliminator.North have limped into the finals, losing nine of their past 11 games, but Camporeale said past form was irrelevant.Finals is contested. Its tough. Its never a pretty game, its an arm wrestle - theres no secrets to it, he said.It will be hot early, no doubt about that.Across the board obviously they (North) have got finals experience, they have played in the last couple of preliminary finals.They have got a hard and tough midfield which generally helps you in finals.And they have got some power forwards so we have got to be able to restrict their supply obviously through the middle of the ground and hopefully put their defenders under a bit of duressCamporeale said the Crows made some harsh selection calls in axing Ricky Henderson and Cam Ellis-Yoelmen in favour of Rory Sloane, who has served a one-game suspension, and defender Brodie Smith, who returns from concussion.Its always difficult this time of year. There is always some unlucky guys that miss out, he said.The Kangaroos named an unchanged side with defender Scott Thompson (groin) and Jarrad Waite (hip) unable to overcome their respective injuries. 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ATLANTA -- The Washington Nationals are heating up, which is bad news for the Atlanta Braves.The Nationals travel to Atlanta to start a three-game series Friday. Theyve won eight of their last 10 and just took two of three from the New York Mets, leaving them with a 10-game cushion in the National League East.The Braves are headed the other way. They are 2-4 on their current homestand and won only two of their last nine as they try to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1988.Now the sagging Braves must host their biggest nemesis. The Nationals are 14-2 against the Braves this year, including a three-game sweep last week in Washington. The Braves have won only two games in its last 25 tries against the Nats. Atlanta needs to go 7-9 or better to avoid a 100-loss season.Were trying to win every game we play, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. Were playing every game like it was the seventh game of the World Series. Were not going to lay down and give in.Meanwhile, Washingtons magic number to clinch the division is seven.Im not a big stat guy, said bench coach Chris Speier, who was acting as manager while Dusty Baker was attending a family funeral. The magic number stuff? No. You play one game. Win one game. Dont worry about anything else.The first game of the series features Washingtons veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (16-7, 2.78 ERA) against Atlanta rookie right-hander John Gant (1-3, 4.dddddddddddd0).Scherzer is on a four-game winning streak, although he received a no-decision in his last start when he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out eight against the Phillies. He is 11-3 since June 1.Scherzer beat the Braves on Sept. 5. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. In his career against Atlanta, Scherzer is 4-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 11 appearances (nine starts).Gant makes his 16th appearance and seventh start. He pitched a scoreless inning of relief in his only appearance against Washington on April 6. Gants last start came against the Mets on Sept. 10, when he received a no-decision after allowing three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings.Both teams may be missing a key player. Washingtons Danny Espinosa left the team Wednesday after the game to join his wife in California, where their first child is due. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman left his team in the seventh inning Wednesday to join his wife for the birth of their first child.The Braves would really miss Freemans bat. He is riding a 20-game hitting streak, the longest in the National League this season, and has reached base in a career-best 36 straight contests. ' ' '