PORT ADELAIDE confronts a Melbourne outfit buzzing from recent good form. The challenge is significant.
Clubland
Port Adelaide replaced Tom Jonas with Dougal Howard for the game, while Melbourne has replaced Clayton Oliver and Viv Michie with Dom Tyson and Neville Jetta.
The heat is on
Early morning conditions were overcast in Alice Springs, but there's a strong chance the cloud cover will clear in time for the game. If that happens, the heat will become a telling factor at Traeger Park. Port Adelaide and the Dees played in similar conditions during the pre-season at Elizabeth Oval, with Melbourne winning convincingly over the Power (although Port played to the new rotations cap).
Saturday's game will be a test of fitness.
A good record that counts for little...
The Power plays well in Alice Springs, but when your sample is two games against Melbourne - for two wins - little can be read into the ledger.
Ruck relief for Jacko
Dougal Howard's selection will give Jackson Trengove some valuable assistance. Three talls - Trengove, Howard and Justin Westhoff - will afford Port's coaches some flexibility in allocating rucks on Saturday afternoon.
The challenge for all three, though, is the Demon Max Gawn - probably the AFL's second-best ruckman right now, and certainly its most improved.
Using that supply
Port Adelaide hasn't capitalised on its ball inside 50 this season. It has some of the highest supply in the league, but it has been unable to capitalise. Smarter Data focussed on the Power's forward supply this week.
Final word
This is a true test of fitness - Port needs to start strong and finish stronger.
Afterwords
The Power will wear a special Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous Round guernsey designed by Karl Amon.
Port Adelaide's club song has been translated into Pitjantjatjara.
Port Adelaide will wear black armbands in memory of three-time (1954, 1955, 1957) premiership player Brian Coldwell who passed away this week.
Port Adelaide plays Melbourne at TIO Trager Park at 1.40pm on Saturday 28 May.
