Port Adelaide is under pressure - at 0-2 - to deliver. It also is the clear favourite in the Showdown of the winless at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

And Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is embracing the external expectation as just the challenge his team needs to meet its own high ambitions - and, along the way, to answer the heavy criticism that was inevitable after the 64-point loss to Hawthorn at home on Saturday.

"We deserve that pressure (of answering the critics) and we embrace the pressure (of expectation)," said Hinkley on the eve of Showdown LI, the first Friday night AFL derby in Adelaide.

Never before have both South Australian AFL clubs entered a Showdown chasing the first win of the season - or burdened by contrasting expectations, as noted by the betting charts for the derby.

"We have our own expectations; we expect to be a good side; our expectation as a football club is to be a team that is strong and highly performing," Hinkley said at Adelaide Oval after the captain's run at Alberton. "With that comes expectation and pressure - that is part of the game.

"And it is not something we are spooked by. We understand it - we appreciate it and respect it."

Port Adelaide starts the derby with a 26-24 lead in the previous 50 Showdowns of which Hinkley's team has won the past four. But it is the last result - the 64-point loss to Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night - that has brought into question Port Adelaide's vulnerability to a young Adelaide team that kept the most recent Showdown to just four points.

Port Adelaide's review of last weekend's 10-goal loss has led to a review many players have described as confronting and brutal. The telling issues from the defeat were the 9.1 conceded to Hawthorn from passages of play that began in Port Adelaide's forward 50 - and the failure to score a goal in either the first or last terms and just seven goals in total.

"They are an honest group; they know where they failed," Hinkley said. "We had opportunities in offence (with a game-high 58 inside-50 entries) that we did not maximise. We did not get the performance we wanted in the front half of the ground.

"And in defence we were poor when we have a long history of being a strong defensive team. We were opened up last week. And that had to with our intent - our intent was off the mark."

The expectation is the spirit of the Showdown simply changes that intent. But Hinkley notes the same theme plays out at Adelaide that is 0-2 and has been put under internal pressure by football director and club great Mark Ricciuto. The Brownlow Medalist's review  - "can't kick, can't handball, can't kick goals" - delivers its own motivation to perform.

"The Showdown is always motivating - to both teams," Hinkley said. "But this is more than the Showdown for us. We are motivated by the need to respond for what happened last week.

"Both teams are in a difficult position," added Hinkley while noting Port Adelaide knows its best football meets the grade. "We have focussed on getting our game to that level where it should be.

"We have been a consistent team for a long period of time. And we believe in this group - and we believe it will respond."

At selection, that will be confirmed with the lodging of team sheets at AFL House on Thursday evening, Port Adelaide will have:

Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall front a new-look attack that remains without Showdown specialist Robbie Gray (COVID protocols from close contact) and All-Australian key forward Charlie Dixon (ankle).

This puts Greater Western Sydney recruit Jeremy Finlayson out of the line-up for the first time since he joined Port Adelaide in the AFL trade period late last year.

"Jeremy's contest is not at the level we need it to be," Hinkley said. "His performance is not where we want it to be. And Jeremy knows exactly what he needs to work on. And he will. He has been a successful footballer over the journey; he just is not in good form at the moment. He is paying the price for the team's form a little bit too."

Added to the forward options are the versatile Sam Mayes and 2020 mid-season draftee Jed McEntee for his second AFL game.

"We have to be as creative as we can possibly be - we will mix and match," Hinkley said of the latest version of the Port Adelaide attack. "We add talent that help can kick goals ... and we have to work on our delivery (to the forwards). Last week (against Hawthorn) we had plenty of opportunities ... but the ball was not delivered where it needed to be."

Hinkley acknowledged Marshall's presence in the line-up would create debate, particularly when the 23-year-old, 55-game forward has scored just one goal this season. His past two outings have amounted to just four disposals in each match.

"It is more than a reasonable question - and Todd is aware of that (scrutiny on his form)," Hinkley said.

"But there is need for structure (in attack). You need a second tall who can help (Scott Lycett) in the ruck as well. Todd is the best option for us this week," added Hinkley who has untried ruckman Sam Hayes on standby as an emergency.

Marshall also offers - as Hinkley put it "flexibility" - should Port Adelaide need height in defence where Trent McKenzie has not completed the first two matches against Brisbane and Hawthorn by injury (left knee and ankle) and All-Australian Aliir Aliir is absent by ankle surgery.

Dixon, who had ankle surgery after a training mishap during the pre-season, was expected to return to competitive football this weekend when Port Adelaide has its SANFL team open the State league season with a SANFL Showdown at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

"(The ankle) is not behaving as we would like it to," Hinkley said. "There is a bit more investigation going on (to the extent of the injury), so it looks like Charlie will be out for an extended period of time. We are looking at four weeks probably.

"And that is the best-case scenario. (Dixon's absence) is a big concern. He is a critical piece of our team - as is Aliir at the other end."

Gray, who was recuperating from a knee injury, should miss just the Showdown by the COVID protocols.

"But he leaves a big hole," said Hinkley of the five-time Showdown Medallist. "Last week's game would suggest we are still relying on him a fair bit ...

"But without (Dixon and Gray) we need to step up. We expect players to step up to be part of the team - that is the great challenge for us. The team will always come out on top if we play together.

"Two weeks ago, we lost to Brisbane but we played at the level that is a truer reflection of us than last week's game (against Hawthorn). Now we have to respond to last week's performance."

The Showdown starts at 7.50pm, following the SANFL derby.