The rivalry was built in the late 90s with a series of thrilling finishes and continued in the early 2000s as the Power and the Lions became two of the powerhouses of the competition, with Port Adelaide ending Brisbane’s run of three consecutive Premierships by claiming the ultimate prize in September 2004.
In recent years - as both teams look to re-build - the classic matches have continued, including a fiery clash in 2009 and a thriller at the Gabba the last time the sides met in 2011.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash, portadelaidefc.com.au takes a look back at the classic matches that have built this great rivalry.
Round 5, 1997 - Port Adelaide 73, Brisbane 71
The first ever meeting between the two sides set the tone for what would be an intense, bitter rivalry for years to come.
The win, set up by five goals to Scott Cummings and dominant display in ruck from a young Brendon Lade, was the Power’s third on the trot and pushed the ‘new kids on the block’ into the top eight.
Round 20, 1997 - Port Adelaide 93, Brisbane 93
The match that cost Port a finals berth in 1997. The Power held a healthy 29-point lead at half time but was pegged back by the Lions and despite a frantic finish, the sides couldn’t be separated on the final siren.
Port Adelaide finished percentage outside the eight behind, you guessed it, Brisbane, in its first year in the AFL.
Round 12, 1998 - Port Adelaide 123, Brisbane 123
Same teams, same ground, same result the next time the Power met the Lions.
An entertaining, high-scoring, thrilling match of football that is unfortunately (for Dewy’s sake anyway) best remembered for an 18-year-old Stuart Dew’s error from a kick-out late in the match.
Stuart Dew in 1998
Round 1, 2001 - Port Adelaide 99, Brisbane 93
A cracking way to start the 2001 season as the Power surged into the lead with a vintage 10-goal third quarter and held on to a narrow victory in Che-Cockatoo Collins’ 100th game.
Midfield trio Jarrad Schofield, Nick Stevens and Josh Francou were best on ground while Cockatoo-Collins and Brent Guerra booted three goals each.
Che Cockatoo-Collins is chaired off after his 100th match
Qualifying final, 2001 - Brisbane 88, Port Adelaide 56
Port Adelaide jumped an inaccurate Brisbane outfit to have a 16-point lead at half time as a major upset was brewing.
But the Lions proved too strong as they piled on nine goals in the second half to run out 32-point victors, led by 32 touches and 2 goals from Simon Black.
The Lions celebrate after winning the 2001 qualifying final
Round 22, 2002 - Port Adelaide 90, Brisbane 84
Playing off for the minor premiership in front of a raucous home crowd of 46,439, the two sides produced one of the greatest matches of the modern era.
With top spot holding extra importance (the rules at the time stated one final must be held at the MCG each week), Roger James - after being knocked out in the first minute of the game - put in a vintage display, racking up 31 possessions and booting two goals, including the match-winner in the dying moments.
Roger James against the Lions in Round 22, 2002
Preliminary final, 2002 - Brisbane 138, Port Adelaide 82
After a disappointing loss to Collingwood in the first round of the finals, the Power bounced back against Essendon for the right to play Brisbane at the Gabba in the prelim.
Despite a lively start, the reigning premiers proved too strong with Des Headland booting three goals to go with his 33 touches as the Lions prevailed by 56 points on their way to back-to-back flags.
Round 17, 2003 - Port Adelaide 104, Brisbane 103
The Power held on to top spot on the AFL ladder, with Roger James again the hero kicking the winning point from deep in the pocket in the final moments of the game.
The margin was never more than five points at any of the breaks as Josh Carr kicked a career-high four goals and Byron Pickett received the three Brownlow votes.
Josh Carr and Chad Cornes celebrate the one-point win
Grand Final, 2004 - Port Adelaide 113, Brisbane 73
After dominance in the SANFL for well over 100 years, Port Adelaide reached the pinnacle of the AFL on September 25, 2004.
To be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Power did exactly that against the Lions, stopping them from claiming a record-equalling fourth-straight Premiership.
The game was close all day, but Byron Pickett and Gavin Wanganeen broke the game wide open in the final quarter as the Power stormed home by 40 points, with Choppy taking home the Norm Smith Medal.
Round 2, 2005 - Port Adelaide 75, Brisbane 73
The club unveiled its first AFL Premiership flag before the game and produced a vintage display in the Premiership quarter to open up a 27-point lead at the final break.
The Power held off a fast-finishing Brisbane to win by two points. Warren Tredrea did what Tredders does best, booting five goals.
Warren Tredrea celebrates one of his five goals
Round 21, 2005 - Port Adelaide 81, Brisbane 51
The Power kept its finals hopes alive with a convincing 30-point win to leapfrog the Lions on the ladder.
Lead by best on ground Shaun Burgoyne, the Power celebrated Michael Wilson’s 150th game in style.
Wilbur chaired off after his 150th
Round 13, 2007 - Port Adelaide 112, Brisbane 105
Port began its surge up the ladder in 2007 with a thrilling seven-point win over the Lions at the Gabba, set up by a seven goal second quarter.
Daniel Motlop was a clear best on ground with six goals.
Click the image to watch Motlop's miracle goal
Round 14, 2009 - Port Adelaide 128, Brisbane 80
In a fiery clash at AAMI Stadium where Troy Chaplin and Jared Brennan were subsequently suspended, the Power stormed home with a six-goal-to-zip final quarter to keep its finals hopes alive
David Rodan got the three Brownlow votes while Brett Ebert and Robbie Gray combined for seven goals.
The rivalry will continue this Saturday at AAMI Stadium from 12.45pm. Buy tickets
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Josh Carr after a Jared Brennan headbutt
