THE AFL says it will continue to work with the Australian Government ahead of its historic Shanghai match, but it is confident international tensions won't force the game to be abandoned.
Earlier on Tuesday, Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club could not ignore escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea and what impact that could have on the AFL's Chinese adventure.
The club released a statement on Tuesday evening saying it had received no indication from the Australian Government "that the game is under threat nor that Australians should avoid travelling to China".
The League said it was confident Port Adelaide and Gold Coast would be able to stage the round eight clash as planned, with Metricon Stadium on standby if required.
"The AFL has always had Metricon Stadium as a contingency venue for this match, but we remain confident the Shanghai game will go ahead," chief financial officer and general manager of clubs Travis Auld said in a statement to AFL.com.au.
"The AFL will continue to work closely with the Australian Government and The People’s Republic of China to deliver our first game in China for premiership points.
"We would, of course, take advice from the Australian Government on any international matters."
Auld said all components of the match were coming together well, including the turf standard at Shanghai’s Jiangwan Sports Stadium.
The Power are set to play the Suns on Sunday, May 14 in the first game for premiership points outside Australia or New Zealand.
The match is listed as a Suns home game, but the Power bought the fixture off them so it could still fulfil its contractual obligation to have 11 games per season at Adelaide Oval.
In round eight, Adelaide Oval will be used on Saturday night, May 13 when Adelaide hosts Melbourne.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Thomas said plans for the match could change if the club received advice from the Australian Government that it would be unsafe to travel to China in light of recent developments.
"We'll take the best advice possible on it," Thomas said.
"Clearly you can't ignore the circumstances that prevail in the world today and they're in a region that's sensitive to China and where we will be.
"Right now, we have had no advice to suggest that the game is at risk or we shouldn't be going, and we'll just keep bowling along until we're told otherwise."
The Power's statement on Tuesday night said: "The Australian Government has given the club no indication that the game is under threat nor that Australians should avoid travelling to China".
"Port Adelaide reassures its members and supporters that the final stages of preparation for this historic game is nearly complete."
