The Power will start warm favourites against the winless Crows after knocking off last year’s grand finalists St Kilda on Saturday night, but history shows that form counts for little when it comes to a Showdown.
The unpredictable nature of the Showdown contest dates back 14 years when rank underdogs Port Adelaide upstaged the Crows in the first game between the bitter rivals.
Port Adelaide holds a narrow advantage (14-13) in the overall ledger, but Adelaide cruised to an easy 70-point win last time the two sides met in round 17, 2009.
On Tuesday Pearce tried to lift the weight of expectation off his side, saying the Crows had more to prove on Saturday.
“The Crows are a great side and they’ve showed that over the last couple of years," Pearce said. "They were a kick away from a preliminary final last year.
"We’re not going in thinking we’re the favourites, the Crows beat us last time we played and we didn’t make the finals last year and they did.
“We understand that each Showdown we play is going to be a tough, hard and fierce contest.”
Port Adelaide’s defensive skills were on show at AAMI Stadium last weekend, with the home side laying 81 tackles in the 10-point win over the Saints.
The Crows have struggled to execute their skills under pressure this season and Pearce said the Power would aim to pressure them into error on Saturday.
“This week we really want to focus on doing what we have done throughout the NAB Cup and in the opening five rounds and that’s apply a lot of pressure to the guy with the ball and cause some turnovers,” he said.
The Power could recall mercurial forward Daniel Motlop for the all-important clash on Saturday.
Motlop hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring playing for North Adelaide in the pre-season competition, but on Saturday night coach Mark Williams suggested he would consider rushing the freakish goalkicker straight back into the side.
Pearce said it would be a huge lift for the players to have Motlop back in the team.
“Some of the things Motts can do on the field are just amazing and if he is playing and he does a few of those magical things it can only help,” Pearce said.
