Port Adelaide believes its dangerous forward Jake Neade rivals Hawthorn's Rioli as a potential game-breaker in the MCG encounter.
While Rioli's quest to return from a 12-week absence due to a hamstring injury is in the spotlight, Port's Neade is assured selection for the sudden-death final.
Neade, at 170cm and 67kg, is among the shortest and lightest players in the League and played just one senior game in the initial 18 rounds.
But since his recall in round 19, he has won respect from teammates including captain Travis Boak, who rates the 20-year-old as an x-factor equal of influential teammates Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard.
"He has been huge since he has come in," Boak said of Neade.
"For a pretty small guy, it's pretty tough to come into a finals series where it goes up another level physically as well.
"His excitement, his pressure on defenders when it comes inside forward 50, has been electric for us.
"He has certainly been one that has been able to help us keep that ball inside 50 and then put scoreboard pressure on."
Neade kicked three goals in Port's elimination final win against Richmond and gathered 17 disposals in the semi-final triumph against Fremantle last Saturday.
Boak said every successful finals side needed players who could turn games in their favour.
"If you are going to be a good side, you certainly need those players," he said.
"Obviously Cyril Rioli is one from Hawthorn, Buddy Franklin at Sydney, Stevie Johnson at Geelong - these sort of players you need in your side.
"And fortunately enough we have got a few of them and Jakey Neade has come in and certainly provided a little bit of that as well."
