A year ago the roles were reversed and it was van Gisbergen trying to help Whincup edge McLaughlin in a head-to-head sprint for the finish.
But while Whincup will try to assist where possible he won't do anything improper to try and ruin McLaughlin's chances either.
"The biggest thing I can do this weekend is really help out with car set-up and make sure both cars are really competitive," he explained.
"We can give us much info as we can to No97 to make it as competitive as we can. We certainly aren't going to do anything untoward to car No17 [McLaughlin] or anything like that. That is not the game we play.
"If I can get in between No97 and No17 and takes some points away from No17 then I certainly will."
Whincup lost out to van Gisbergen in 2016 while he somehow managed to pip McLaughlin last year in a controversial finish to the season.
With seven championships to his name the most successful driver in the history of the championship is convinced there is no blueprint to handle a straight battle for the title over the last four races.
"Everyone is different so what works for me won't work for anyone else and vice versa.
Both of these guys and everyone in the field make huge sacrifices and dedicate our life to winning championships so it is a huge deal.
"It is a big difference running first compared to running second at the end of the year.
There is going to be a lot of stress and when you are under stress mistakes get made so whoever makes the least errors will stand on the top step at the end of the year."
Hearing van Gisbergen and McLaughlin talk about just how tough it is to win a championship it brings home how incredible Whincup's run of success has been in the past decade.
"I certainly respect the great success I have had and the hard work that has been done.
Every year is a battle — you don't get any easy ones and this year is no different," the 35-year-old said.
"Whoever stands on the top step at the end of the year knows they deserve it and I hope the best man and best team wins."
