PORT ADELAIDE can almost cement its place in the SANFL finals this week, but it requires the Maggies to get over a North Adelaide side that hasn't won since the opening weekend of the season.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 2, 2015: Port Adelaide 16.11 (107) def South Adelaide 6.5 (41)
SOUTH ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 2, 2015: North Adelaide 13.12 (90) def Adelaide Crows 12.15 (87)
HEAD TO HEAD (since 1876)
Port Adelaide 224 v 101 North Adelaide
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 3 v 2 North Adelaide
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: WWLLWWWWWLLWLW
North Adelaide: WLLLLLLLLLLLLL
PLAYBILL
Round 12 catch-up game
North Adelaide v Port Adelaide
Prospect Oval
Saturday 8 August
First bounce: 2:10pm (ACST)
Academy: 11:25am
Hashtags: #northport
Broadcast: RPH Adelaide
Tickets available at gate: Adult $14, Concession $8, Children U18 Free
TIME MACHINE
Round 13, 2014: The Magpies storm away with the game after half time to claim a 38-point win over the Roosters.
PORT ADELAIDE 3.5 5.9 12.12 15.15 (105)
NORTH ADELAIDE 3.0 4.2 8.2 10.7 (67)
Best: Stewart, Colquhoun, Logan, Clurey, O'Shea
Goals: Neade 3, Butcher, Summerton, Moore 2, Amon, Palmer, Redden, Stewart, Colquhoun, S. Gray
at Alberton Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE STAKES
Port Adelaide must win this game. With four matches to play, a victory over North would lock the Magpies into the top five and practically secure a finals berth. Against North Adelaide, though, is the risk of danger and complacency. A hungry team that hasn't won since the opening weekend of the year, every game is about Rooster pride. The Magpies have already played lower-ranked sides like the Crows and Sturt into form with below-standard performances, it can't afford a repeat against the red-and-white.
SELECTION: Monfries to play for Maggies
Angus Monfries will make his SANFL debut for Port Adelaide against the Roosters, while Nathan Krakouer and Mason Shaw will return from injury. For North, former Magpie Corey Grove will play despite suffering hamstring tightness last week, while Oleg Markov will play his first league match. Other ex-Port SANFL players inlcuding Alex Barns and Jay Shannon come into the squad, along with Alan Obst, Andy Read and Liam Jacka. The Thring brothers - George and Max - are both out with injury.
THE THEATRE
Historically, Port Adelaide loves playing at Prospect. Behind Alberton and Woodville, Prospect is the Magpies' happiest hunting ground, which says a lot considering the long history of matches at the ground. As it stands, Port has won twice as many games at the northern suburbs venue as it has lost.
THE VIBE
Port must, and should, win this battle, but its form against bottom-five teams has been average at best.
