FORM GUIDE

Past five: Lions 4 – Power 1
All matches: Lions 14 – Power 11 (two draws)

It’s the first match between these two sides this year and the first time in nearly a decade that a result of a game between the two teams could affect each other’s finals chances.

Three on the trot for the 12th placed Lions puts a last-minute finals attempt on the cards, but all that will fall to pieces if they can’t overcome Port Adelaide this Sunday.

Tom Rockliff continues to lead the way for the Lions collecting 34 disposals against Melbourne last weekend in Darwin, while Matthew Leuenberger dominated the ruck contest with 38 hit outs and 19 disposals of his own.

Port Adelaide sit precariously in 8th position – a game clear of Carlton – following a strong start to the season, with veteran Kane Cornes (11th most disposals in the competition) leading the way for the Power in 2013.

The Power got back on the winners list last weekend against St Kilda with Matthew Lobbe (40 hitouts) getting over the top of highly regarded Saints ruckman Ben McEvoy (34).

SELECTION TABLE

The Lions have named an extended bench with Brent Moloney, Jonathan

Brown, Mitch Golby and Jack Crisp coming in, with the injured Pearce Hanley (hand) the Club’s only change so far.

Ryan Lester, Jordan Lisle, Brent Moloney, Mitch Golby, Ryan Harwood, Jack Crisp and Elliot Yeo have been named on the extended bench.

Port Adelaide also opted for a 25-man squad with Kane Cornes and former Captain Dom Cassisi are the most notable inclusions to Port Adelaide’s 25-man squad, while Tom Jonas (suspension) and Jake Neade (rested) will miss Sunday’s game.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Arguably the most important match-up will be the rucking duel of the two Matthews, Leuenberger and Lobbe, who both come off enormous games last weekend.

Leuenberger sits fourth in the competition for hitouts (428 in 14 games) with the likes of West Coast’s Dean Cox (420,16) and Sydney’s Shane Mumford (323,13) trailing the Lions big man.

Lobbe (313,13) sits 11th on the list and has been pivotal in upset wins over Collingwood and Sydney this year.

Whoever gains the upper hand in the ruck will give the evenly matched midfields first use of the footy, which will go a long way to deciding the result of the game.

Justin Westhoff has found the best form of his career in 2013, averaging an impressive 18.9 disposals a game as well as kicking 22 goals so far this season in a versatile role that sees the 199cm utility gather disposals around the ground. Named in a forward pocket, it is likely that either Joel Patfull or Justin Clarke will go to the Port danger-man and hopefully minimise his impact on the game.

Jack Redden has been massive for the Lions in the last three games against the Power.

The Lion from South Australia has a knack of putting together quality performances against the team from his home city and whether a returning Kane Cornes – who labeled himself as the Power’s only ready-made tagger during the week – will go to Redden, Rockliff or Daniel Rich is something that Port Adelaide coach, Ken Hinkley, will have to weigh up moving into Sunday’s important game.

Andrew Raines also has a great record against Port Adelaide in recent times averaging 22.3 disposals in three games against the Power. Travis Boak averages 26 disposals in his last four games against the Lions and Raines will likely be the man Michael Voss sends to curb the dangerous midfielder’s influence.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The midfield duo of Rockliff and Redden combined for 60 disposals last weekend against the Demons and seem to thrive as they work together through the middle.

Redden averages 21.3 disposals and nine tackles in his four games against Port, while Rockliff averages 23.3 disposals in three appearances against the team from Alberton. Expect these two to be a major factor in the Lions winning chances.

Dayne Zorko has had a relatively quiet last couple of weeks and a player of his caliber rarely finds himself out of the action for too long. Expect some magic from the Lions’ playmaker this week.

Matt ‘Goose’ Maguire lines up for his 150th game this weekend and will be looking to make it a memorable one with a strong performance on Jay Schulz at full forward. Schulz has dominated the Lions in their recent encounters kicking 11 goals in his last three games against Brisbane, and Maguire will be keen to shut down one of the Power’s strongest avenues to goal.

Kane Cornes’ return from suspension is a massive inclusion for Port Adelaide.

The all-time club games record holder joins Boak and Schulz as the best performing Port Adelaide players in recent games between the two teams. Cornes’ maturity and composure are likely to cause some headaches for Lions coach, Michael Voss.

MISSING IN ACTION

Pearce Hanley is a massive out for the Lions with the in-form Irishman suffering a fractured hand in last week’s win over the Demons. Arguably the Lions best performer in 2013, Hanley is set to miss 2 to 4 weeks and his omission is an unfortunate setback for the Lions in this week’s must win game.

RECENT HISTORY

If we look back to the beginning of the millennium, the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide were the benchmark of the AFL, finding themselves in the top 4 from 2001 to 2004, with the Lions taking home three premierships and Port Adelaide taking the 2004 Premiership against an ageing Lions team.

With both teams struggling in the last few years, it is interesting to note that this is the first time since 2007 that Port Adelaide have been in the top 8 moving into round 18 while 2009 was the last time the Lions have been in the top 8 at this point of the season.

The Lions have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning the last four games by an average margin of 14 points.

Travelling shouldn’t worry the Lions too much as AAMI Stadium hasn’t exactly been a fortress for Port Adelaide this season who have won five games and lost three at their home ground. The Lions are yet to play at AAMI this season, but have won three of their last four limited encounters at the ground.

With the young, but rich, rivalry between the two teams this contest will likely go down to the wire in a must-win game for both sides.

The Bounce: Sunday 28 July at 12:40pm (local time) at AAMI Stadium.