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With pride, bragging rights and the Portuguese League title on the line, Saturday's match should bring out the best in all of its participants. No player on that pitch should have any reason to not be motivated and ready to go when the first whistle is blown.
Keeping their emotions in check will be slightly difficult for some, but all the world class players are used to this pressure and these types of matches. Porto will be playing to not only take a massive step towards reclaiming the Portuguese title, but they will also not want to watch Benfica celebrate the Portuguese title at their stadium.
Who will give Porto that edge in Saturday's match?
Jackson Martinez
The 26-year-old Colombian striker is only in his first year with Porto, but he has certainly left his mark at the club. In 26 league appearances, Martinez has found the back of the net on 25 occasions, making him the leading scorer in just his first stint in Europe.
His pace, strength and ability to somehow get the ball into the opposing goal is something Porto fans are used to. It was not too long ago that Jackson's fellow Colombian, Radamel Falcão, was a nightmare for opposing defenders.
On Saturday, Martinez will take part in his second Classico, but this time around, it will be at the Estádio do Dragão. A 2-2 draw in the away fixture earlier in the season gave Martinez another goal to his tally, after a mental lapse from Benfica's Artur.
Keeping him off the score card will be no easy task. He has gone two matches without scoring, but the Colombian has six goals in his last 10 matches.
Up against him will likely be Luisão and Garay, two experienced defenders. But, lets also not forget that they both have taken part in a number of matches as of late, allowing fatigue to potentially settle in at some point in the match.
Neither of the Benfica central defenders will know much about Martinez, given they have only played against him on one occasion since his arrival in Portugal. Watching match videos on him will also not be enough because if it was that easy, every match would be boring and predictable.
I predict that the Porto striker could face some early anxiety since he has not been a part of a domestic match of such high importance yet. Early touches on the ball will be vital for him to gain some confidence, but if his creative midfielders are unable to get anything going, he could struggle to find opportunities.
All it will take is one chance, and he could turn this match on its head. Without a goal in two matches, Martinez could be good for a goal in this match.
Mangala
In his second year with Porto, Eliaquim Mangala is really starting to prove why the Portuguese side brought him to the club. His athleticism and age are two good enough reasons to have given him a shot, but his pace and vision of the game is almost like something you would see in a veteran player.
Having turned 22-years-old in February, Mangala is well on his way to not only signing for a top club in Europe, but he will help Porto make a significant profit on his sale along the way.
For his size, he is incredibly mobile. Unlimited strength and fitness accent his game, while set pieces are one of his game changers. Earlier in the season, he got things started for Porto at the Estádio da Luz getting on the end of an indirect free kick, giving his side an early one goal lead.
While scoring goals is not his main concern, Mangala has helped Porto to the best defensive record at home in the current campaign. Vítor Pereira's side has only conceded four goals at the Estádio do Dragão, with three coming in their last five home matches.
The Dragões have had an up and down year, and just when it all seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, their side was starting to make mistakes that they generally would not. Now with a potential title match in their own stadium, Mangala and his fellow teammates will need to be at their best to stop the league's most potent offense.
Will Porto manage another clean-sheet at home? It is certainly possible, but given the importance of this match, there could be at least one goal in them both.
João Moutinho
One goal in his 22 league appearances for Porto is not a very flattering stat line, but what really stands out is the number of assists he has. 12 assists in the Portuguese League has Moutinho among some of the best in the league.
Along side Fernando and Lucho Gonzalez, the former Sporting CP captain has really managed to turn his career around, after his former club's president believed the Portuguese international was damaged goods. Regardless of what he thought Moutinho was, the only damage the Porto midfielder has been doing is on opposing teams.
He is not your typical box to box midfielder who will run around and knock people over. His size puts him at a disadvantage against some of Europe's elite midfielders, but his work rate and vision make up for all of that.
Offensively and defensively he helps the team, and he generally keeps things simple, allowing the Porto midfield to operate at a quick pace. Finding his teammates on set pieces helps him contribute, but most of all, his late runs into the box are what set him aside from most.
A lot of midfielders tend to drop off when the team goes forward, allowing them to always be in prime position in case the ball is lost in transition. Moutinho on the other hand, has the knowledge to know that Lucho and Fernando will be there to cover, giving him more freedom to venture forward.
He will be up against Nemanja Matic, a player who many believe has been the most valuable player of the league this season. The Serbian midfielder is very similar to Moutinho's style from a box to box perspective, but his size over Moutinho could make the difference.
One advantage the Porto midfielder will have is the experience factor, given he has been part of many matches against Benfica, but none may have been as important as this one.
Apart from the three mentioned above, who else could be important for Porto on Saturday?
