PORT Adelaide, having slipped to 0-4 after a tough start last season, faces a friendlier opening few weeks in the 2009 fixture.

The Power will take on bottom-eight sides Essendon, West Coast and Melbourne in their first three games in 2009, with two of the three to be played at AAMI Stadium.

Choco's chargers will play the standard 12 games at AAMI Stadium next season, but will go cross-country in their remaining away games. Port Adelaide, again, faces two trips across the Nullarbor and will also journey to the SCG, TIO Stadium (Darwin), the Gabba and Skilled Stadium in Geelong.

Sunday games rise from 10 last year to 13 in 2009, while Thursday/Friday night games drop from two to just one next year (against St Kilda at AAMI Stadium in round five).

Port Adelaide fans should enjoy the fact their side will tackle just three of last year's top-eight sides – Hawthorn, Adelaide and North Melbourne – twice, while also playing two matches against cellar dwellers Melbourne, Fremantle and West Coast.

The Power will also get the chance to become reacquainted with the MCG, where they will play three games in 2009, after venturing there just once last year.

Port Adelaide will host the first Showdown next season – a Saturday night blockbuster in round six – with the re-match in round 17.

The Power will round out the regular season against North Melbourne at home in round 22 and, travel and Sunday issues aside, should feel reasonably confident in their fixture.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.