TONIGHT Port Adelaide has a genuine chance to advance to a preliminary final, but there's plenty standing in its way in the form of a seasoned finals campaigner - Fremantle.

Port Adelaide goes into the side with an unchanged line-up while Freo has been forced to bring Matt de Boer into the side as substitute while Alex Silvagni is a late change with a hamstring problem.

Matt White will play for the Power after suffering a minor jaw crack against Richmond; he'll start on the bench. Andrew Moore will again be the substitute for the Power.

Port Adelaide AFL First Semi Final team v Fremantle
Saturday 13 September, Patersons Stadium, 5:45pm (AWST)/7:15pm (ACST)
FB: Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Tom Jonas
HB: Matthew Broadbent, Jack Hombsch, Cam O'Shea
C: Kane Cornes, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
FF: Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
Interchange: Matt White, Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard
Substitute: Andrew Moore

Fremantle AFL First Semi Final team v Port Adelaide
FB: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Danyle Pearce, Tendai Mzungu
C: Cam Sutcliffe, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF: Matt Taberner, Chris Mayne, Michael Barlow
FF: Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Zac Clarke
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe
Interchange: Lachie Neale, Hayden Crozier, Nick Suban
Substitute: Matt de Boer

In: Suban, de Boer (replacing Silvangi)
Out: Ballantyne, Silvangi (hamstring, replaced in selected side by de Boer)


1. A position of strength
Port Adelaide enters this game with its best side at basically full health. The unchanged line-up announced at 4:15pm (local time) is crucial to the Power's hopes at the Subiaco Oval, because there can be no excuses when your premium side runs out. Fremantle, in contrast, is without Hayden Ballantyne (jaw) and defenders Alex Silvagni (hamstring) Luke McPharlin (calf) and Michael Johnson (back) but will play Michael Barlow who was crutch-laden as a precaution earlier this week. Freo has adapted to the loss of McPharlin and managed to take the four points in Round 23 despite a visibly struggling Johnson, however the loss of Ballantyne is significant. He booted four against the Power two weeks ago and is a dangerous livewire forward for the 'haze'.

2. The house of pain
We've said a few times this year that Port Adelaide's record at Patersons Stadium is one of the best for non-local teams. That's a historical record, of course, and takes into account performances against the Eagles as well. Against Fremantle, the Power has lost the past eight encounters at the venue. That said with a strong showing against Ross Lyon's men in the dress rehearsal a fortnight ago, which could have been a more positive result if not for a third-quarter lapse, has given the Power plenty to work with for Saturday night's big show.

3. In the stars?
North Melbourne upset Geelong last night to go into their first preliminary final since 2007. That's also the last time Port Adelaide played in a prelim before its long finals drought, which was broken last year.

4. Warm-up
With a 22 and mostly sunny day set for Perth on Saturday, the conditions will be akin to those experience by the Power last Sunday against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval. Port loves warm conditions - it trains in the South Australian (and Dubai) heat all summer - and a dry deck suits its natural running game. As useful as that is though, it is the Dockers home ground and they'll be looking to ensure their winning record of 29 wins from the past 31 games at the ground - one of the best home winning records in the league - continues.

5. Consistency and a bit of bang
How's Port Adelaide going to win tonight? Because if you ask most people they're underdogs. That tag is no protection, because North Melbourne weren't favourites on Friday night either, and the Power's playing group and coaches aren't hiding behind it. There's no tomorrow in a knockout final if you lose. The Power and its senior coach Ken Hinkley will be seeking another level on both what it produced in Round 23 against the Dockers and last Sunday against Richmond. A consistent performance will go one better than the effort produced at Patersons two weeks ago - it was a super-impressive display from the Power, but that third quarter - admitted by all - let the side down. Four quarters tonight will maximise the Power's hopes.

And a bit of bang will go a long way too - like that shown by the Power early against the Tigers. That scoreboard pressure and passionate on-field display put the result beyond doubt early in the elimination final. There's plenty counting against the Power tonight, but there's also the ingrained belief and arguably knowledge that, should it bring its A-grade game, it can beat any side in the competition.

We'll know in roughly three hours time...