The hard-tackling Nick Lower

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DEFENDER Nick Lower is hopeful it will be a case of history repeating when Port Adelaide takes on Adelaide in Showdown XXV on Sunday.

The Power, who enjoyed a dominance over their rivals in the early years, have won just two of the past nine Showdowns with their last victory coming in round 21, 2006.

In a similar situation to that year, Port had already conceded that they couldn’t play finals and made a vow to blood youth.

One of those auditioning youngsters was first-year player Lower, who had been brought into the team in place of injured veterans like his mentor Michael Wilson, skipper Warren Tredrea, Peter Burgoyne and Daniel Motlop.

Lower joined Matt Thomas, Greg Bentley, Tom Logan and Troy Chaplin in one of the youngest Power teams on record. What followed was one of Port Adelaide’s great wins.

“It was only my second or third game, but it was definitely one of the highlights in my footballing career. No one expected us to win and it was a magical day,” Lower said.

“I remember the siren sounding and being in the rooms with all the young guys afterwards. It was just amazing and hopefully we can repeat that this weekend.

“The tape from that day hasn’t come out this week yet. There have been a few whispers about it, but we’re just focusing on the now and the group we have now.

“I guess you can draw some similarities from the ‘06’ team and it would be really good if we could do it again.”

Showdown XXIV in round three this season was considered to be one of the best games of the pst decade with Adelaide prevailing narrowly in tough contest.

Forecast bad weather and the poor recent form of both teams has seen ticket sales plateau this week but Power assistant coach Matthew Primus said Sunday’s clash would be another for the ages.

“We hope all our supporters get out there and support us. We want a pretty big crowd there, but we understand where we’re at and all we can say is it’s going to be a great game of footy,” he said.

“We get a chance to beat our rivals. We haven’t beaten them for a few years and we want to put a smile on the faces of our supporters in what’s been a bit of a miserable year for them.

“It might not be a great day weather wise, but come along because you’re going to remember this one for some time.”