Activate war mode! Port Adelaide’s players will don the lightning flashes of old on Easter Sunday against the Saints. Fair to say both sides will want to bring home the chocolates…
Clubland
Port Adelaide is suffering withdrawal symptoms. Matt White, Hamish Hartlett and Jay Schulz have all been scribbled from the Power's line-up for Saturday, replaced by Jimmy Toumpas, Aaron Young and Dougal Howard.
The Crows are basically full-strength with Kyle Hartigan sliding into the team to provide extra height in their defence.
Disappointed not to be out there tomorrow but looking forward to the boys going to work, in particular #18, #32 and #40. #weareportadelaide
— Hamish Hartlett (@hharts8) April 1, 2016
Pumped for @dougalhoward to be getting his first game. Has earnt his crack at it. He plays Port Adelaide footy. #weareportadelaide
— Jay Schulz (@Jschulz28) April 1, 2016
Congrats as well to @JToumpas for his first game for the club. No better time to come in and play a showdown. Best of luck.
— Jay Schulz (@Jschulz28) April 1, 2016
No danger?
Patrick Dangerfield has slinked from the Crows nest and Adelaide is devoid of its reigning club champion and most important midfielder. Who fills the void? Scott Thompson is always dangerous, Rory Sloane is too. Make no mistake, there is a clear and present danger in the Adelaide midfield - Port needs to win in the middle from the first bounce.
A final in April
Feel for the Port and Crows players running out on April - just a bit - no other club needs to play a final in April. This is going to be a brutal contest, with bragging rights on the line and a genuine animosity between these local rivals. Port Adelaide prides itself on winning the hard ball, and will be hungry for the contest on Saturday arvo.
Look who's going to be on the field today [pic: Kane Chenoweth/portadelaidefc.com.au]
The old campaigner is back... in pink
Port Adelaide's Showdown champion is back. The true antagoniser of the Adelaide Football Club, Chad Cornes, will run out in his first Showdown since 2011 - in pink. We're expecting a bit of lip from the crowd towards him, and we're expecting him to love it.
The Final Word
It's the game you love to win and hate to lose. The ones celebrating another trophy photo will need to play the tougher brand of footy on Saturday.
Afterwords
Port Adelaide's usual home guernsey is yet to make an appearance in 2016, with the club to wear its 'heritage themed' Showdown guernsey. That one features the classic Port Adelaide white number panel that was shelved for the first time back in 2010 after being worn continously since 1953.
Port Adelaide's 157th and 158th AFL players debut on Saturday - Jimmy Toumpas and Dougal Howard.
It's Daniel Talia's 100th game for the Crows today.
This is the 40th Showdown. Port Adelaide narrowly leads the ledger 21:18
Port Adelaide plays the Crows in Showdown XL at 1.15pm on Saturday 2 April at the Adelaide Oval.
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Late withdrawals for the Power
