HEAD TO HEAD: Port Adelaide 15 wins, West Coast 6 wins
LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 8.13 (61) d West Coast 8.12 (60), round 20, 2010 at AAMI Stadium
TV: Fox Sports - (Perth/WA 12:00pm, Melbourne/VIC, Sydney/NSW and TAS 3:00pm, Brisbane/QLD 2:00pm, Darwin/NT 1:30pm, SA 2:30pm), Network 10- Perth/WA 12:00pm, Adelaide/SA 5:30pm)
RADIO: SEN, 6PR, ABC720, FIVEaa, ABC891, TripleM
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
BETFAIR ODDS: Port Adelaide $1.50, West Coast $2.98
FORM: Port Adelaide: L West Coast: W
SUMMARY
These two teams have been tipped to finish near the bottom of the AFL ladder this season, but their form in the opening round suggests they might be tougher to beat than first thought.
West Coast took a small step towards re-establishing its fortress at Patersons Stadium, recording a narrow win over North Melbourne, while Port Adelaide was more competitive than the scoreboard reflected in its 75-point loss to Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
Both teams will need to restructure their forward lines ahead of Saturday's clash, after losing attacking linchpins Mark LeCras (adductor) and Jay Schulz (knee) to serious injury last weekend.
Coaches Matthew Primus and John Worsfold have adopted a similar youthful approach over the past 18 months, as they attempt to rebuild powerhouse teams of last decade and the game at AAMI Stadium will be a good indicator of which side is further advanced in its development.
QUESTION MARKS
Can Port Adelaide cover the loss of Schulz? Justin Westhoff stepped up last weekend, kicking four goals, but the Power will need to unearth another target to support the lanky big man. Veteran Chad Cornes and forward Brett Ebert, who has recovered from a tonsillectomy, are both in the mix.
How will the Eagles respond to their energy-sapping hit-out against the Kangaroos? John Worsfold's men will have one less day to recover than their opponents this weekend and have the added disadvantage of having to travel.
Can West Coast break its hoodoo against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium?
The Eagles haven't beaten the Power at home since round 11, 1998 when the venue was still known as Football Park and it will be a tough ask for them to end that drought this weekend.
PREDICTION
Port Adelaide by 29 points.
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Rejuvenated West Coast ruckman Dean Cox dominated in the absence of North Melbourne ruck pair Todd Goldstein and Drew Petrie last weekend, gathering 29 possessions, 29 hit-outs and two goals to post an impressive score of 142. Power midfielder/forward Jarrad Irons also impressed in the opening round, finishing with 13 disposals, two goals and 71 Dream Team points on debut against the Magpies. At $80,400 he's a bargain and is certain to jump in price after round three.
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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
