Port Adelaide will seek to end a recent downturn in their South Australian Derby record when they face Adelaide in Friday night’s Showdown. The Power have lost five of the past six encounters against their crosstown rivals, including a 98-point defeat in their last meeting in July, which was also the final derby for former coach Ken Hinkley. Adelaide, the 2025 minor premiers, enter the contest as favourites, while Port finished 13th last season. Both teams hold 3-4 records going into the match.

Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr acknowledged the sting of recent losses but emphasized focusing on the present game rather than past results. “Showdowns aren’t just any game, there’s always a bit more on it for supporters and both clubs,” Carr said. He highlighted the challenge of maintaining consistency through four quarters and stressed the opportunity in front of his team to perform above their previous form.

Port Adelaide comes into the match off the back of a strong performance, having defeated Geelong by 30 points last Saturday. They made one change to their lineup ahead of the derby, bringing back swingman Todd Marshall from illness in place of six-game midfielder Jack Watkins, who had been a late inclusion the previous week.

The coaching duel on Friday marks Josh Carr’s debut as Port Adelaide’s head coach in a Showdown. Carr, who served as an assistant under Hinkley and had a 10-0 playing record in Showdowns with the Power, faces Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks, who has overseen 11 derbies as the new veteran of the derby coaching ranks. Nicks took over the Crows following a season that saw them break an eight-year finals drought in 2025.

Former Power assistant and Fremantle football boss Peter Bell, a former teammate of Carr’s, said Carr’s familiarity with the playing group and clear vision for how the team should play positions him well for the task ahead. Bell noted Port Adelaide’s recent form and individual performances from key players like Jason Horne-Francis, Zak Butters, and Mitch Georgiades as factors that could help the Power upset expectations against Adelaide’s stars, who have been somewhat inconsistent relative to their reputations.

Adelaide has faced a challenging fixture this season, including multiple six-day breaks, which contrasts with Port Adelaide’s additional day of rest leading into the match. Bell remarked on Adelaide’s tight results in earlier rounds and the club’s use of a high number of players this season, contributing to continuity challenges.

The Showdown will be played alongside another Friday night fixture between the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle at Marvel Stadium. Carr expressed that the South Australian rivalry deserves a standalone prime-time slot given its significance to supporters in the state.

Both teams hope to use the derby to build momentum in a season where neither has yet been able to sustain consistent high-level performances, setting the stage for a hard-fought contest that goes beyond form lines and ladder positions.