PORT Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin says the growing spat between former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and its president Eddie McGuire won't offer his side a psychological advantage ahead of their clash on Saturday.
A row between the pair went public after McGuire said Malthouse's premiership-winning game-plan went from "revolutionary to middle class" in the space of two years in the Sunday Herald Sun.
Malthouse fired back at McGuire on 3AW before saying he felt Collingwood players were torn between following new coach Nathan Buckley's game style and his own.
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But Chaplin said the stoush wouldn't have any effect on Saturday's game, at least not for the Power.
"If you watch the news or read the papers it's pretty much out there at the moment," Chaplin said.
"It doesn't add any fuel to the fire; it might to them, but not to us."
With gun forward Travis Cloke expected back in time to face the Power, Chaplin and Port Adelaide have bigger things to worry about.
Cloke is an AFL superstar and led the competition in marks last season. Chaplin said he rated Cloke as one of the best in the game.
"They've got a couple of handy tall blokes up there in [Chris] Dawes and Cloke and I think Cloke could be one of the best players in the competition," Chaplin said.
"His goalkicking can let him down but when his confidence is up and he's playing well, he's probably one of the hardest forwards to play on and is one of the best forwards going around."
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Incredibly, despite Cloke's status as one of the elite forwards of the AFL, Chaplin said there were still aspects of his game that remained underrated.
"People don't realise how fit he is … he's as good a runner as Nick Reiwoldt," Chaplin said.
"His strength and ability to take a contested grab is second to none and that's why he's probably led the marks in the AFL in the last couple of years."
With Alipate Carlile regarded a certain starter on Saturday despite being subbed out of last Saturday's game with a leg injury, Chaplin said the responsibility of shutting Cloke down would be shared by himself, Jackson Trengove and Carlile.
Carlile sent a scare through the Power camp when he limped off against the Swans, but his injury proved to be minor, much to the amusement of his teammates.
"He's fine, just went off from cramp … pretty embarrassing on his part," Chaplin joked.
"He was pretty sore but he'll be fine this week - no worries at all."
Port Adelaide may also welcome back promising forward John Butcher, who has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
He was rated as a 50-50 chance to play the Swans and Chaplin said he looked just about right.
"Butcher will train Thursday and hopefully he comes back in this week," he said.
"He seems like he's going to be ready to go … Matty [Primus] won't risk anyone whose got an injury cloud over their head."
