SITTING second on the ladder and leading the competition on percentage is a great start for Port Adelaide, but they'll face a tough North Adelaide at Alberton Oval in the Maggies' first home game for the year this Saturday.
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 223 v 101 North Adelaide
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 2 v 3 North Adelaide
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: W
North Adelaide: W
PLAYBILL
Port Adelaide v North Adelaide
Alberton Oval
Saturday 18 April
First bounce: 12:10pm (ACST)
Academy: 9:30am
Hashtags: #portnorth
Broadcast: Channel Seven (TV)
Tickets available at gate: Adult $14, Concession $8, Children U18 Free
TIME MACHINE
Round 13, 2014: A capitulation in the final term saw the Magpies lose what looked like a secure win to the Roosters on a wet Alberton day.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.0 10.2 13.5 14.8 (92)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.5 7.7 9.10 13.16 (94)
Best: Amon, Stewart, Johansen, Newton
Goals: Amon 4, Newton, J. Butcher, Harvey, Summerton, Ah Chee, Shaw, Stewart
at Alberton Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE EDGE
Even though Port had a strong performance against South, North Adelaide are an altogether different scenario. The Magpies will be without gamebreaker Nathan Krakouer, but that shouldn't weaken their utility stocks too severely. Up forward the likes of John Butcher give Port a focal point, and Mitch Harvey is another versatile player who can ruck and kick goals. The importance of a team-wide effort is no clearly seen than in the fluid link-up of Port's 21 players last weekend. It will need that again on Saturday.
Karl Amon - He was one of the Magpies least impactful players last Friday, but Amon is a fit, talented player who kicked four goals against North the last time these two sides met. If he can lift and hit the scoreboard as a dangerous running forward, the black-and-white will be signing around Alberton.
Marlon Motlop - A talented player who kicked the winner for North Adelaide last week, this former Power player can break a game open. Like Amon, can run and kick goals.
Port Adelaide will be essentially full-strength against the Roosters, and five North players will undergo fitness tests during the week. It sets the scene for a tight contest at Alberton.
THE THEATRE
It goes without saying, Port Adelaide loves to play at Alberton. The Magpies have an incredible record at Alberton - winning every three in four games - and against North - winning almost as often at the ground.
THE VIBE
If recent contests are anything to go by, expect this to be a fiery encounter.
