PORT Adelaide forward Brad Ebert expects former teammates Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard to cop some treatment from Power supporters when they return to Adelaide on Friday night.
Polec and Pittard were traded to North Melbourne in the same deal during last year's NAB AFL Trade Period, but under different circumstances.
Polec, 26, accepted a lucrative five-year offer from the Kangaroos, while Pittard, 28, moved to Arden Street having fallen out of the Power's best 22.
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"There might be a little bit towards Polly and maybe even a little bit towards Jasper," Ebert told reporters on Tuesday.
"Jasper went for more opportunity and Polly went for other reasons, so it depends on how they take that as players.
"We understand there's that business side to football so we're not holding any grudges against Polly.
"When you're getting offered those sort of deals, it's hard to say no.
"We're not sitting here going, 'Polly should be still here', or anything like that.
"We've moved on as a group and they've moved on as players.
"It'll be interesting to see the reception … I'm sure some fans will be pretty keen to throw their two cents in."
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Polec played 90 games for the Power from 2014-18 having started his career in Brisbane, while Pittard spent nine seasons and played 126 games at Alberton after arriving at the Power as the 16th overall pick in the 2009 national draft.
The pair got a taste of what to expect when the Kangaroos faced the Power at Alberton Oval in the JLT Community Series.
In the trade, the Power received pick 11, which they used on speedy forward Zak Butters, who has been a revelation in the opening five rounds of the season.
They also received a future fourth-round pick from the Kangaroos, while sending back pick 48.
Polec has averaged 23.4 disposals, 5.8 marks and 4.4 inside 50s per game on the wing, while Pittard has been solid across half-back, with 20.4 touches and 7.6 marks per game.
Ebert said the Power – who are coming off an outstanding win over reigning premiers West Coast in Perth – can't take the bottom-placed Kangaroos lightly.
"The way the comp is these days, everyone is coming out firing," he said.
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"More times than not, you're not seeing too many easy wins.
"North Melbourne are a strong competitive side, we know they're going to come out hard and keen to make amends for how their season has started and we're going to be ready for that."
Ebert said Sam Powell-Pepper (calf) and Connor Rozee (ankle) trained on Monday after finishing the win over the Eagles on the bench and were in no doubt to face the Kangaroos.
