PORT ADELAIDE will play against a top of the ladder rival for the second time in as many weeks when it faces Glenelg at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
The Magpies will be looking to put the brakes on the Tigers three-game winning streak, while trying to extend their own victorious run to six wins in a row.
Port Adelaide has collected consecutive victories over Sturt, Norwood, North Adelaide, West Adelaide and Adelaide in recent weeks with its last loss coming at the hands of Glenelg in Round 8.
When the sides last met, it was a wet, cold, windy, miserable day in Glenelg, with the red-hot Tigers handing the Magpies its largest loss of the season - 49 points.
The defence had its hands full against the League’s most productive forward Liam McBean (40 goals from 13 games) who was cleaner than everyone else on the ground booting four goals.
Hamish Hartlett returned from injury for that match and collected 18 disposals, while Willem Drew managed 32 disposals, nine tackles and 10 clearances in a stand out performance.
The Magpies have been on an upward scale of improvement and have shown consistent form since then, while welcoming back star players along the way with Charlie Dixon, Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and Sam Hayes returning from injury through the SANFL.
It was the young brigade of Magpies who have stood up over the last fortnight, and especially last Saturday against the Crows in Port Pirie with Jack Strange, Matt Appleton, Billy Frampton and Boyd Woodcock impressing against a talented and experienced opposition.
Port beat Adelaide by 30 points and coach Matt Lokan was excited by the challenge of facing another top-flight team this Sunday.
“Six straight wins is what we are after and it does set us up for the back half of the year, but it doesn’t get any easier - Glenelg are along with Adelaide the best sides in the competition and we need to be on our game on Sunday,” he said.
“Glenelg will be tough, they are a really good side and really touched us up earlier in the season, hopefully we will get a few guys back to bolster our side – I think Jack Trengove won’t be far away after missing a big chunk of footy.
“It doesn’t get any easier, every game in the SANFL is pretty tough.”
The third-placed Magpies will go head to head with the top of the table Tigers from 2.10pm on Sunday at Alberton Oval.
