Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks knows all too well the reality of a grudge match like the Showdown, which heads into its 57th edition this Saturday night.
The Crows and Power have faced nine teams since Nicks took to the helm of the Adelaide football club, and the results couldn't be tighter, with Port Adelaide recording five wins, while the Crows, of course, have claimed the other four.
Nicks has also been on the underdog side many times since joining Adelaide in its rebuilding years, but has managed to pull off remarkable upset defeats against the Power.
This year the tables have turned however, with Port Adelaide no longer heading in as favourites after the Crows' strong start to the 2025 AFL season.
But Nicks knows not to underestimate a Power side with their backs against the wall, as they have already pulled off emotionally driven victories against Hawthorn and Sydney this year.
"100 per cent, that's Port Adelaide, they do that really well (play with their backs against the wall)," Nicks said on Wednesday.
"They're a competitive team that love the battle. We hope we can bring that and match that, put on a performance that entertains, which it normally does.
"We've got no doubt that they're going to come out and bring fire as they do in every Showdown... Port at their best are extremely dangerous, their potent when they get their opportunity, they bring heat."
Nicks said the Crows wouldn't place any specific attention on a player like Zak Butters, who has returned to the side from a pre-season knee injury with immediate impact.
"If we give Butters a lot of attention then Jason (Horne-Francis) gets off the chain, then Drew gets going," Nicks said.
"They've got talent, so it's not about individuals. If Butters gets going, it's because we're not getting the contest right in the first place."
The Crows are facing selection headaches ahead of this round, for all the right reasons however, as members of the side make their case for selection through strong SANFL form or return from injury.
Mitchell Hinge is one who is on the cusp of return in defence, however after a comprehensive defeat of Carlton, Nicks may have to think twice before making his inclusion.
"It will be a difficult conversation if Hinge is ready to go, but it's a great position for us to be in. We made four changes last week, three of those forced, so to perform the way we did shows where our squad's at," Nicks said.
"This week we'll have Hingey available, and which way we go we'll see after training."
Fringe forward Luke Pedlar also put his hand up for selection after starring in the Crows' SANFL win over Norwood, kicking four goals and taking six marks.
He will presumably be in conversations for selection, but it's likely he may be squeezed out again due to the strong performances by the current senior side this season.
"We thought the weekend was him (Pedlar) saying 'hey, I'm here, I'm ready to go'," Nicks said.
"I thought he started the game really well. We've had a couple of really good chats over the last week or two, just around how his game hasn't really been at where he wants it to be.
"To put out a performance like he did on the weekend was a really good sign. His body's starting to feel a little bit better... It's nice to get an understanding of where he's at.
"There's things that play out. We don't play 23 players across a season, we play 30 plus. So we know we're going to need these guys ready to go - whether it's injury, whether it's form, whether they smash the door down and say 'you have to play me'.
"'Peds' has got a game (in the senior team) at his best, we know what he can do at AFL level."
Adelaide's squad for Showdown LVII will be announced at 6:20 pm on Thursday.
