TRAVELLING to Patersons Stadium is one of the toughest tests in football but the Power is in good form after its huge win over the Lions last week and will take on a West Coast side looking to bounce back from a disappointing result against the Cats.

Belligerents

PORT ADELAIDE
Year to date: WWLW
Last five at ground: WLLLL
Currently ranked: 3rd

WEST COAST EAGLES
Year to date: WWWL
Last five at ground: WLLWW
Currently ranked: 4th

HEAD TO HEAD
Power 16 v 9 Eagles

LAST FIVE
Power 2 v 3 Eagles

PLAYBILL

AFL Premiership Season - Round 5
West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide
Saturday 19 April
Patersons Stadium
First bounce 5:40pm (AWST)/7:10pm (ACST)
Hashtags: #pafclive #afleaglespowers
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YOU’RE INVITED

Official Port Adelaide pre-game event
Subi Sports Bar
Patersons Stadium
Starts: 1:00pm
Entry: $25 Adults, $15 Children
Finger food provided
MC Ken Judge
Official Port Adelaide post-game event
Subi Sports Bar
Patersons Stadium
Commencing after conclusion of game
Players, coaches, directors and staff in attendance

TIME MACHINE

Round 5, 2013. No one saw it coming. Down by 41 points, 19 minutes into the third quarter, Port Adelaide mounted a massive goal frenzy to reel in an inaccurate West Coast in the dying moments of its Round 5 game at AAMI Stadium.

PORT ADELAIDE 1.0 2.5 7.7 12.12 (84) def
WEST COAST 4.4 7.13 9.16 10.19 (79)

Best: Hartlett, Wingard, Neade, Carlile, Boak
Goals: Wingard, Boak, Monfries, Hartlett 2, P. Stewart, Neade, Broadbent, Cornes
at AAMI Stadium

MATCH NOTES


NAME GAME
For the first time since player numbers were introduced to the club's guernsey 100 years ago, Port Adelaide supporters will be able to identify the club's players by a new mechanism - surnames. Like in many international codes, player surnames will be trialled league-wide this weekend with the Power displaying black names on its white guernsey on Saturday. The club will auction match-worn guernseys following the game.
MEDICAL ROOM

The Power and Eagles are set to welcome back players from injury this weekend, with Chad Wingard hoping to be declared fit on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles will also have fuller stocks with Darren Glass (hip) and Chris Masten (hamstring) both a chance to return.

NUMBER CRUNCH

Score: Power 496 v 372 Eagles
Kicks: Power 890 v 795 Eagles
Handballs: Power 651 v 621 Eagles
Marks: Power 401 v 333 Eagles
Disposals: Power 1541 v 1416 Eagles
Contested possessions: Power 580 v 556 Eagles
Frees: Power 67 v 62 Eagles
Tackles: Power 288 v 240 Eagles
Clearances: Power 143 v 143 Eagles
Inside-50s: Power 219 v 189 Eagles
Rebound 50s: Power 132 v 135 Eagles

FINAL SAY

This will be a telling match for both sides, with the odds evenly split between Ken Hinkley's Power and Adam Simpson's Eagles.

Both have dropped just one of four games this season and sit inside the top four on percentage behind undefeated Hawthorn and Geelong. 

Each side has played attractive football to start the season and will be keen to press their early ladder advantage on Saturday night.

It's the second time in as many years the teams have met in Round 5, and the Eagles will want to make sure the result of 2013 isn't repeated. 

Port Adelaide won't want to repeat it either, with Ken Hinkley on record earlier this year saying the Power's trademark comebacks need to be replaced by strong four-quarter efforts. 

And while the flight Subiaco is one of the toughest trips in the league, Port Adelaide's ledger at Patersons Stadium isn't as catastrophic as other clubs. 

Against West Coast it has a 5-6 record at the venue and overall it has an even 12-12 split. 

Losses have been produced in the last two trips to the west (against Fremantle), but the Power is able to play the long and skinny Perth surface and needs to perform on the road if it is to be considered a genuine threat to the top four mainstays.

Coming off a bumper win over the Lions is good for the Power's form, while the Eagles will return from Simonds Stadium looking to make amends for their loss against the Cats, so expect a quality showing from two quality footballing sides. 

The Power's task isn't helped by West Coast - the Eagles will welcome back big names like Luke Shuey and Matt Rosa and are a chance to bring in Darren Glass and Chris Masten. 

And while Nic Naitanui was handed the vest last week, the big playmaker remains a good chance to play on home turf. 

While the Eagles are set to welcome a number of players back which will see change to their side, Port Adelaide's has its own challenge: how to fit a healthy Chad Wingard into a side that posted its club's second biggest win in the AFL?

He's a crucial player who can turn a game on his own boot and if cleared to play will be an automatic inclusion, such has been his early-season form.

This is a test Port Adelaide needs to pass this weekend and, at the very least, it looks as though it will have the best team to do it.

ODDS

Power 1.90 v Eagles 1.90