PORT ADELAIDE will be hoping to keep its finals hopes alive when it takes on Sturt on Saturday at Unley Oval.
The Magpies' loss in the SANFL Showdown at Adelaide Oval last weekend has put them in danger of falling out of the final race.
With just three games remaining, two of which come against top five sides South Adelaide and the currently undefeated Glenelg, Port sit a game and percentage behind fifth placed Norwood.
Sandwiched between the Magpies and Redlegs is this week's opponent the Double Blues, who currently sit equal on points with Port making Saturday's clash all the more vital.
Port Adelaide SANFL coach Matthew Lokan admitted that last weekend's showing against Adelaide was ‘disappointing’.
“We were extremely disappointed with the way that we played on the weekend,” he said.
“We went into the game with high expectations to be able to play a good four-quarter effort.
“Credit to Adelaide, they out worked us and were first to the footy and we weren't able to capitalise on our inside 50s. We've reviewed that pretty heavily and moved on now.”
The Double Blues got the job done by 41 points the last time the two sides met at Alberton, despite a six-goal starring performance from Dylan Williams that earned him an AFL debut the following weekend.
However, Lokan said his side is up for the challenge in the return fixture at Peter Motley Oval.
“We're really looking forward to Sturt this week, it's always hard to play out at Unley against Sturt,” he said.
“We know we're up for a big challenge, and really looking forward to it.
“They're a really competitive young side, probably the back half of the season, they've performed really strong.
“We know they're in some good form and we've been a little bit inconsistent with our form. It's a really important game in the context of our season.”
Campbell Wildman and Jack Strange return, the former to face his old side, while the experienced Sam Powell-Pepper and Steven Motlop will also come into the side along with any emergencies not required at AFL level will come into the side.
Port Adelaide’s clash with Sturt gets underway at 2.30pm at Unley.
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