Where and when: Docklands, Saturday, May 9, 7:10pm (local)
Head to head: North Melbourne 14 wins, Port Adelaide six wins
Last time: Port Adelaide 23.10 (148) d North Melbourne 10.12 (72), round 22, 2008 at the MCG

MISSING IN ACTION
North Melbourne
Daniel Wells (hip) – test
Matt Campbell (hamstring) – test
Liam Anthony (foot) – 1-2 weeks
Jesse Smith (hamstring) – TBA
Daniel Pratt (knee) – 2-3 weeks
Robbie Tarrant (knee soreness) – 1-2 weeks
Lachlan Hansen (hamstring) - 3-5 weeks
Brent Harvey (elbow) – 10-12 weeks

Port Adelaide
Mitch Banner (sinus fracture) – test
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) – test
Toby Thurstans (hamstring) – test
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Jarrad Redden (ankle) - 2 weeks
Nick Salter (knee) - 5 weeks
Justin Westhoff (fractured foot) - 5 weeks

FORM
North Melbourne: WLLWLL
Port Adelaide: WLWWLW

SUMMARY
North Melbourne struggled in the absence of skipper Brent Harvey and livewire duo Daniel Wells and Matt Campbell last week, going down to Collingwood by 52 points.
   
The Roos, courtesy of four first-half majors from Aaron Edwards, kept pace with the Pies early but became handball happy and kicked just 11 goals for the game.

Resurgent ruckman Hamish McIntosh was a dominant force and young trio Gavin Urquhart, Jack Ziebell and Ben Warren continued to strut their stuff, but there weren’t too many other winners for the (pale) blue and white.

The up and down Port Adelaide took its supporters back to the summit on Saturday night with an impressive 26-point win over cross-town rivals Adelaide. Veteran Warren Tredrea sparked the Power with three goals and barometers Dean Brogan, Chad Cornes and Daniel Motlop all got involved.

The Roos claimed the first nine games ever played between these two sides. Port Adelaide has since rallied to win three of the past four, but the stage is set for an upset.

North Melbourne’s last 50-point-plus loss (to Hawthorn in round three) triggered a spirited win over Essendon the following week and the Power have already demonstrated they don’t handle favouritism well.

PLAYER TO WATCH
David Hale (North Melbourne)
The lanky forward established himself as the focal point up forward last season, finishing with a club-high 37 goals. Hale bagged 21 majors from his last six games in 2008, but has struggled to find the same consistency in the early stages of 2009. The Roos have managed just 47 goals in their past five games and need the 201cm Queenslander to improve on his goal-a-game average to be a force again this year.

Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
The speedy wingman’s performances have been an accurate gauge of his side’s success this year. Pearce has averaged 27 possessions and a goal in each of Port Adelaide’s four wins this season, but has managed just 12 and 13 touches, respectively, in its losses. St Kilda opted to tag the skilful onballer with great success in round five and Roos’ coach Dean Laidley could be inclined to do the same on Saturday night.

QUESTION MARKS
Can North Melbourne find a better avenue to goal? Dismal entry inside attacking 50m didn’t help the Roos’ forwards last week and it’s unlikely another 11-goal total will be enough to overcome the free-scoring Power under the roof of Docklands.

Which Port Adelaide will board the plane to Melbourne on Friday? The Power have placed an emphasis on consistency following a month of mixed results, but it remains to be seen if they can generate a high-octane performance without an external stimulus.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY?
On paper, you’d pick Port Adelaide every day. North Melbourne should regain the services of Campbell and, possibly also, Wells, but if the Power come to play it’s hard to see the Harvey-less Roos getting over the line this week.

PREDICTION
Port Adelaide by 23 points

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.