PORT Adelaide captain Travis Boak sees no point playing down Saturday's Showdown against Adelaide.
Boak said the Power, winners in four of the past six matches against the Crows, embrace the hype of the home-town clashes and have three players lining up to replace injured Matt White (pectoral).
"Showdowns have always been like finals," Boak told reporters on Wednesday.
"And finals footy is contested footy and really tight games. And I'm thinking it will be along the same path."
Ex-Melbourne utility Jimmy Toumpas could make his debut for the club in Saturday's Adelaide Oval clash, with Karl Amon and Aaron Young also in the frame.
Port banked a 33-point season-opening win against St Kilda despite ruckman Matthew Lobbe copping a touch-up from young Saint Tom Hickey, who had 57 hit-outs and 20 disposals.
Lobbe's ability to carry Port's rucks given the suspension of Paddy Ryder is a talking point, but Boak said the big man wasn't listening.
"Lobbes is a pretty strong person, so he doesn't listen to too much outside talk," Boak said.
"He loves that added pressure and that whole responsibility of being the only ruckman and taking control in the midfield.
"And he's one that if he is struggling he will let us know. And he's certainly not in that space."
Lobbe on Saturday resumes his rivalry with Adelaide's Sam Jacobs, the Showdown Medal winner in 2014 and 2012.
"He's ready to take on the challenge," Boak said.
"He's more excited than ever to take on one of the best ruckmen in the league in Sammy Jacobs, so we're certainly backing him in for that."
MORE ON PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU ...
