PORT Adelaide is talking down the tag of favouritism heading into Sunday's Showdown against Adelaide, claiming its position on top of the ladder means nothing.
The Power sit a win clear at the top of the table, while the Crows are fighting to keep their finals hopes a mathematical possibility.
Adelaide is in danger of falling three wins out of the eight this weekend after dropping a vital opportunity last start against Essendon to keep the pressure on eighth spot.
Port's coach Ken Hinkley talked up Adelaide's ability to cause a boilover, agreeing with his Crows counterpart Brenton Sanderson that, at its best, Adelaide was one of the most dangerous sides in the League.
"Their form's been a little bit up and down, but their best form is as good as any team in the competition," Hinkley said.
"They've beaten North (Melbourne), they've beaten Collingwood – they've got form on the board at Adelaide Oval which is really scary for us and we need to make sure we bring our best."
Port has claimed the last three Showdown victories including a 54-point thrashing of the Crows in round two this year.
In Sanderson's favour this week though is a strengthened forward line; Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch all missed the club's most recent Showdown failure.
All three have both proven difficult to stop at times this season and Lynch's running power has been clearly missed since his jaw was broken by Jack Viney in round seven.
Sanderson also flagged the possibility that both Lynch and Jenkins would be required in defence, in the absence of the rested Ben Rutten.
Sanderson acknowledged it was a risk to drop a player of Rutten's experience for such an important match, but said the Crows had defensive options around the ground to step up if Port's forwards took control.
"[Dropping Rutten's] always a risk because 'Truck' has been one of our most important defenders over the club's history and he's a 200-game player and he's got plenty of talent," he said.
"But hopefully it's a calculated risk.
"We've also got Jenkins and (James) Podsiadly who have played back for us this year as well.
"We've got three tall forwards, if the conditions don't suit and Ken's talls are getting hold of us we've got other options as well.
"(Brent) Reilly and (Brodie) Smith can also play tall so we have got plenty of backup plans."
As important as Sunday's game is for both sides, Hinkley described it as just another step in the Power's "progression".
"We've been a side that's really consistent all year and we need to make sure we do that again this weekend," he said.
"We're not focusing any further ahead.
"It's a Showdown and we know it's an important game in the state and we don't lose sight of that all, but we also understand it's the next game in our season, our progression."
