PORT ADELAIDE is at 6-8. Carlton is at 6-8. And the winner of Thursday Night Football at Adelaide Oval will stay in the equation for September's AFL top-eight finals.
But regardless of what the premiership table - and the murky mathematics how many wins are needed for finals qualification - say about the race to September, senior coach Ken Hinkley is clear on one theme: Port Adelaide will play out Season 2025 to its fullest.
"We will always stay in the fight," Hinkley said at Alberton on Wednesday. "We will do that right to the end no matter what happens.
"You turn up in a professional game and our expectation is to perform at our absolute best with every chance we get to play. That will be our approach to the end of the year, whenever that is.
"We will go hard to be the right Port Adelaide."
SELECTION: Port Adelaide's match committee had much to consider from the home loss to Sydney on Saturday - and the coaching staff had little time to work through a quick turnaround to Thursday Night Football.
Hinkley has preferred to consider form across many games rather than just the Sydney result.
However, his options at selection are stronger, as will be noted when the team is named on Wednesday evening.
"Our SANFL squad did not play at the weekend - so we have freshness we can bring into the side. We will do that. We will bring in some fresher players," said Hinkley who for the past fortnight has had to deal with players and staff weakened by illness.
"We don't get a lot of time in a five-day turnaround, so you do not do much training. It is more around conversations and more around preparation. And being aware of the opposition coming towards us. That is how we have spent our time and we are ready to go."
BIG GAINS: Key defender Aliir Aliir will return after missing the clash with his former club Sydney by a knee injury. Key forward Jack Lukosius will resume - in the SANFL - after overcoming the back spasms he felt in the gym while recovering from his fractured knee cap.
"Aliir will be there," said Hinkley.
"Jack will play (SANFL) and that is a really good story for us. We finally have Jack Lukosius playing footy. All things being equal, if he progresses the way he should, I would love to think he will be coming to Brisbane the week after."
Former captain Travis Boak is "very fresh" after his short absence with illness but Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines will not play as he nurses a knee injury.
"Trav will play," Hinkley said.
TWO RUCKS: Jordon Sweet and Dante Visentini will remain as the ruck duo for the third consecutive game.
"One week with two rucks (against Melbourne) was viewed pretty positive; last week was not viewed as positively," Hinkley noted. "We have evidence on both sides. We are going to back our players."
BERGMAN MOVE: Miles Bergman will move from the midfield to defence - and he will not be telling his opponent of his health, as was the case with Isaac Heeney last week.
"I spoke to Miles about those things ... if he had his time again he might not go that way," Hinkley said. "It is a learning moment for a young player. Let's not be too critical of someone being honest.
There is a time and a place when you have to hold some information. Miles could have done that a little bit better. But I am excited with what he might be (on Thursday night)."
FOCUS: "On what we need to do well," Hinkley says is the theme from the post-Sydney review. "For two out of our past three weeks we have had some good stuff that we have done really strongly. But last week we did not do everything we wanted to do.
"But the previous two weeks we played as well as we have this season.
"Our players are disappointed with the inconsistency but what I can say about our players is they turn up every week with the right attitude to (be consistent). I love their effort."
DEPTH TEST: Port Adelaide has had its depth tested by a high injury count this season. Hinkley regards the list at Alberton as capable of running deep.
"It is more than okay," Hinkley said. "Our additions from the mid-season draft have helped. It is a tough competition to have 45 great players all ready to play AFL at the one time. Put injuries into the mix and it will be challenging for every club.
"You want a healthy squad. A healthy squad will give you good depth."
FREE KICKS: Port Adelaide hears the umpire whistle against its players more than any other team - and Hinkley is looking within for the correction.
"We try to get after the opposition a fair bit aggressively," Hinkley said. "Maybe we need to tidy up a bit. We have a narrow focus on a couple of areas we need to be better (with tackling)."
OPPO WATCH: Carlton - and coach Michael Voss - are under intense pressure after failing against North Melbourne last week.
"They are not dissimilar to ourselves," Hinkley said. "We have not had the most consistent seasons. They are trying to get on a run, as we are trying to do."
Port Adelaide has two games against Carlton this season as part of the "double-up" matches in the home-and-away fixture. The return game against Carlton is at the Docklands in Melbourne on Saturday, August 16.
