ADELAIDE midfielder Rory Sloane would rather not play Port Adelaide in the upcoming NAB Challenge, believing such contests should only be played during the home and away season.
Tensions in the City of Churches escalated last week when the Crows announced they would wear a state-themed jumper against the Power in round two.
The guernsey was meant to reflect the Crows' SANFL heritage, but only succeeded in angering club greats and the Power.
As the first game at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, the March 29 clash shapes as a blockbuster.
However, the two fierce rivals will face-off next Sunday in the NAB Challenge, and Sloane said he'd prefer to leave Showdowns to the premiership season.
"That'd be ideal (to avoid Showdowns in the pre-season), probably not so for the AFL," Sloane said at Myponga Primary School, south of Adelaide.
"It's a mini-Showdown I suppose and both teams will still be going super hard, I guarantee you that, but the actual Showdowns are amazing games to be involved in.
"They (Port Adelaide) finished off (last) year amazingly so it's going to be a good test for us."
The 23-year-old reigning best and fairest winner was awarded joint acting captaincy with Patrick Dangerfield ahead of the 2014 season while Nathan van Berlo recovers from a ruptured Achilles.
Sloane said that while his build-up to the new season hadn't changed much to previous years, it would be the "scarier" Dangerfield who tossed the coin before the first bounce.
"'Danger' will toss it, I've made that clear to him … he's a bit scarier in the middle, if you're an opponent you'd probably rather look at me than Danger," he said.
"I've tried to keep things very similar (this summer) … I've had a strong focus on certain parts of my leadership throughout the pre-season … my build-up has still been the same."
Sunday's clash against the Power will be the footballing world's first real glimpse of key Adelaide recruits James Podsiadly and Eddie Betts working together in the same forward line.
Both are certain starters in round one having impressed coaches and teammates through the summer.
"I'm so excited to watch Eddie and Pods play because they've both had massive pre-seasons, they've both been tearing it up," Sloane said.
"We've had a few match simulations, just playing each other and a few intra-clubs and both of them looked very sharp."
Sloane was joined by teammates Jared Petrenko and Luke Thompson in Myponga as part of Adelaide's Australia Post Community Camp.
Remembering his primary school days, Sloane thought back to a visit from a former Carlton premiership player.
Although he wasn't able to win the long-distance kicking competition, Sloane remembers that day fondly.
"It's awesome, we love these trips and kids get so much out of them – I still remember I had Dean Rice come out for my school visit and I've remembered that all throughout my career," he said.
"I can't remember what he said, but I just remember being so pumped that I had his autograph and got to go home with a Carlton player's autograph – it was amazing."
