But the animosity felt between the two sides goes beyond rivalry borne through shared geography.
The enmity felt between Port Adelaide and the Crows is unique in Australian football - nothing like the other local derbies played between sides like West Coast and Fremantle, and now of course Brisbane and Gold Coast or Sydney and GWS.
It is different still from those old Victorian rivalries of suburban Melbourne - the histories built up between sides like Collingwood and Carlton or Essendon and Richmond.
Port Adelaide has no truly 'traditional' rival in the AFL; Norwood, it's historic enemy, still plays in the SANFL.
The club's rivalry with Adelaide derives not just from their proximity to each other, but the animosity many Port Adelaide supporters still feel today towards an opponent that took its place in the AFL in 1991.
Back then, Port's bid to enter the expanding national competition was blocked by the other South Australian clubs, before a 'team' to represent SA football was hastily begun - Adelaide.
Port of course had to wait until 1997 to have its chance to mix it with the best of those old Victorian clubs and other franchises like West Coast and Fremantle or the relocated and merged sides in New South Wales and Queensland.
So it was no surprise when, in Round 4, 1997, Port Adelaide, with a side comprised of many of its young SANFL players drafted the year prior, sought vengeance for its failed original bid.
And it did.
Thus have Port and the Crows battled it out over some thirty-four games; the final derby at the ground will be the thirty-fifth.
Power supporters, staff and players have felt the dizzying highs of victory 18 times and the crushing lows of defeat a further 13 at AAMI Stadium, the turf formerly known as Football Park.
Relive some of those moments, the heroes and villains of those classic derbies below.
The day: Sunday 20 April 1997
The game: Showdown I, Round 4
The result: Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) defeated Adelaide Crows 11.6 (72)
All ours: (Above) Vice-captain Brayden Lyle holds the inaugural Showdown trophy and (below) the team sings the song in the rooms.
The day: Sunday 6 August 2000
The game: Showdown VIII, Round 22
The result: Port Adelaide 20.19 (139) defeated Adelaide Crows 14.8 (92)
After a difficult year where it would finish 14th on the ladder, Port starts a record that today remains unbeaten with its first of a streak of seven Showdown wins. Nick Stevens wins the club's first Showdown medal.
The day: Sunday 15 April 2001
The game: Showdown IX, Round 3
The result: Port Adelaide 23.15 (153) defeated Adelaide Crows 13.10 (88)
Port storms out of the blocks and never looks back en route to the biggest ever score in a Showdown. Josh Francou racks up 31 touches and kicks two goals to win the Showdown medal while Gavin Wanganeen boots six.
"Our time to shine": The Power runs onto the field for Showdown IX. Who would've thought their score that day would stand the test of time?
The day: Sunday 31 August 2003
The game: Showdown XIV, Round 22
The result: Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) defeated Adelaide Crows 12.6 (78)
Happy days to be a Port supporter as the Power clinches its seventh consecutive win over the Crows. Josh Carr is brilliant with 24 touches and four tackles along with the brilliant Brett Montgomery and Byron Pickett who bag three goals each, but it is Peter Burgoyne with his 22 disposals, six tackles and some crucial efforts around the ground who collects the Showdown Medal and three Brownlow votes.
Brilliant: Peter Burgoyne proves elusive and creative in a Showdown-medal winning performance for the Power while (below) Byron Pickett celebrates one of his three goals.
The day: Saturday 8 May 2004
The game: Showdown XV, Round 7
The result: Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) defeated by Adelaide Crows 17.17 (119)
The streak ends with a crash when a Mark Ricciuto-led Adelaide cruises to a comfortable 32-point win over the Power at AAMI Stadium, despite the best efforts of Warren Tredrea who boots seven goals and Peter Burgoyne with 26 disposals.
Try as he might...: Warren Tredrea slots a whopping seven goals against the Crows to no avail in a streak-ending loss to the Power.
The day: Sunday 29 August 2004
The game: Showdown XVI, Round 22
The result: Port Adelaide 12.13 (85) defeated Adelaide Crows 9.6 (60)
We're going to the finals. And it would prove a successful final series at that when Port would eventually defeat Brisbane on that last Saturday in September. To help it on the way was eventual Premiership captain Warren Tredrea who would boot four goals and win the Showdown Medal.
Here we come September: Warren Tredrea celebrates one of his four goals against the Crows in the Power's last minor round win of 2004.
The day: Saturday 10 September 2005
The game: Showdown XIX, Semi Final
The result: Port Adelaide 5.10 (40) defeated by Adelaide Crows 18.15 (123)
This one hurt. After losing many members of its premiership team before the start of the year and falling to the Crows in two minor round Showdowns during the season, Port loses the first ever derby in a final when Adelaide kicks on to a massive 83-point win. The game is still known today for that bump from Byron Pickett which levelled Rhett Biglands just before half time.
Choppy does it again: Byron Pickett remonstrates with Crows opponents after a mammoth bump on Rhett Biglands and (below) Peter Burgoyne and Dean Brogan search for answers after the Power's semi final loss.
The day: Sunday 27 August 2006
The game: Showdown XXI, Round 21
The result: Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) defeated Adelaide Crows 11.15 (81)
A drought-breaker for the Power as Showdown-specialist Chad Cornes inspires the Power to a gritty come-from-behind win over the Crows. No doubt a few Adelaide supporters left doubly embittered after another blitzing effort from The Chad.
This one's mine: Chad Cornes clinched his first and only Showdown Medal with 28 possessions in 2006.
The day: Saturday 2 May 2009
The game: Showdown XXVI, Round 6
The result: Port Adelaide 15.15 (105 defeated Adelaide Crows 12.7 (79)
The last win in the club's inaugural AFL jumper design was one of its sweetest. In front of 41,558 spectators the Power pegged out a 26 point win in an arm-wrestle all night long. Dean Brogan had 27 hit outs while Kane Cornes accrues a mammoth 37 touches and four clearances.
Loving it: The boys celebrate the win by singing the song on-field next to the true believers.
The day: Saturday 25 July 2010
The game: Showdown XXIX, Round 17
The result: Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) defeated Adelaide Crows 9.15 (69)
It had been a tough year for Port Adelaide. Premiership coach and club legend Mark Williams had stepped down as coach and former captain Matthew Primus had stepped into the caretaker role. Against the odds, Port Adelaide prevailed in a twilight thriller for Matty's first Showdown win as coach. It also guaranteed Josh Carr ten wins from ten Showdown starts - an enviable record for any player in the city of churches.
Ten from ten: Josh Carr is chaired off in his retirement game after winning ten Showdowns from ten appearances.
The day: Saturday 16 April 2011
The game: Showdown XXX, Round 4
The result: Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) defeated Adelaide Crows 9.12 (66)
It was one of few high points in a tough year for the Power and, at first, it was looking like Showdown XXX would be a tough night! After a goalless first quarter, Port clawed back into the game to overtake the Crows after half time thanks partly to four goals from David Rodan, with the new Showdown specialist Justin Weshoff running amok is what would become one of many strong efforts in the Showdowns.
Howzat? Chad Cornes gives the Cheer Squad some love in his Showdown swansong
The day: Sunday 14 April 2013
The game: Showdown XXXIV, Round 3
The result: Port Adelaide 17.16 (118) defeated Adelaide Crows 16.13 (109)
A roaring Port Adelaide crowd pushes the Power from a 15-point deficit at half time to equal the Crows at the final change and storm home to its eighteenth and most recent derby win. Port captain Travis Boak kicks three goals and racks up a dominant 30 touches to lead his team home while Chad Wingard and Justin Westhoff both continued excellent starts to the 2012 season with three and four goals respectively.
Love that feeling: Travis Boak and Matthew Lobbe celebrate a captain's goal against the Crows at the start of 2013 and (below) Hamish Hartlett congratulates senior coach Ken Hinkley on his first Showdown win.
