IN-FORM Port Adelaide midfielder Tom Rockliff has wasted little time touching base with his former Brisbane teammates ahead of Saturday night's encounter at The Gabba.
"I've spoken to a couple of them early in the week, a couple of coaches as well," Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday.
"There's been a little bit of banter go back and forth, but once the ball's bounced, actions speak louder than words."
It's the first time Rockliff will play at The Gabba since leaving the Lions at the end of 2017.
He played 154 games in nine seasons before joining the Power on a four-year deal as a free agent.
"I don't think we left on bitter terms or anything like that," Rockliff said.
"Both parties were happy with how it panned out in the end.
"I wish the Lions nothing but the best – obviously not this weekend, but it's outstanding to see them winning.
"(Coach) Chris Fagan has got them going really well, (head of football) David Noble off-field has done an outstanding job and it's good for the AFL competition and the growth of the game that Queensland footy's doing well.
"It was good to see both (the Lions and Gold Coast) win; hopefully we're the ones walking away with the four points after a really good fierce contest up there."
Rockliff has made an outstanding start to the season with 44 and 37 disposals against Melbourne and Carlton respectively in the past fortnight to be the leading possession-getter in the AFL.
He wasn't sure if the Lions would send a tagger his way, believing both teams would start off backing in their own midfields to get the upper hand.
"I'd imagine at this stage, both teams will go head to head in that area," Rockliff said.
"They've got some quality in there – they brought in (Jarryd) Lyons and (Lachie) Neale in the off-season, and with the likes of (Jarrod) Berry and (Dayne) Zorko, they've got some really good mids.
"If Lachie gets off the chain, we'll probably look to nullify his impact on the game, he's had an outstanding two weeks.
"If they decide to tag, hopefully they go to someone else, but it will be a really good midfield battle across the board."
The Power midfield is likely to receive a boost, with co-captain Ollie Wines on track to return from shoulder surgery for his first game of the season.
Rockliff doesn't believe the addition of inside bull Wines will change his game.
"We've got a really good balance," he said.
"We've all got a bit of flexibility in our games, the ability to flip inside-outside the contest, to go out on to the wing or even go forward at times.
"I don't think anyone's roles have really changed, it's great to have (Wines) back, he's the co-captain of our club, he's a terrific player and unfortunately for him, he hasn't been there the first two weeks."
