The war of words has well and truly begun ahead of Showdown 54.
Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide enter Saturday night on the back of narrow defeats, but will be looking to bounce back this weekend when they battle it out in the second Showdown of 2023.
The rivalry between the two teams is storied and Power defender Ryan Burton has thrown the first barb this week, speaking openly about his dislike of the Crows.
“I hate the football club; I think we all do,” Burton told SEN SA's The Run Home.
“I love playing against them, they’re always great games and the build-up is great.
“I’m going to enjoy Saturday night hopefully and also walk away with four points and the trophy.”
Despite Port coming off two losses they still sit in second position on the ladder, but Burton is well aware that the chasing pack is coming.
“We’re only a game clear of third-placed Brisbane and we need to keep that top two spot so we need to do everything we can to win and they're fighting for a spot in finals so it couldn’t really be any bigger," Burton said.
“We’ve both lost a couple now in a row, so both teams really need a win."
Two-time Adelaide premiership captain Mark Bickley was frank in his assessment of what Burton had to say.
He believes it is a case of “big brother-little brother” between the Crows and the Power.
“It was interesting how he said both clubs feel the hatred, he’s talking on behalf of Adelaide there, I’ve never heard an Adelaide player say they hate Port Adelaide," Bickley said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“There is a bit of big brother-little brother mentality there.
“Port Adelaide are the little brother, because they came into the competition later and Adelaide Crows are the big brother.
“If he feels like there’s that hate there and that’s how the Port Adelaide Football Club feels, then fair enough."
The Crows are facing some selection headaches ahead of Saturday night and Bickley expects there to be multiple changes.
“With (Izak) Rankine and (Josh) Rachele not playing, (Nick) Murray and (Tom) Doedee ruled out because of long-term injuries, you feel like Adelaide’s depth is being tested,” Bickley said.
“You’ve got (Jeremy) Finlayson who has a cracking record at Adelaide Oval, he scores goals whenever he plays there and is 197cm, so Adelaide has the decision, do they bring in a big defender or do they go with someone like Mitch Hinge who has stood up at different stages and played on blokes like Jeremy Cameron.
“There’s also been a lot of discussion around Rory Sloane, he’s played pretty much every game this year and the last two haven’t been his best games.
“Is this the time you give Rory Sloane a week off, and bring (Jake) Soligo in?
“There’s lots of different discussions there."
Adelaide midfielder Ben Keays also joined SEN SA Breakfast and touched on the fierce rivalry of the Showdown.
“It’s easily the fiercest club rivalry in Australia. Exceptional football on display. The games are usually close, and I can’t wait to play in another one," Keays said.
With the war of words underway and tough decisions to be made for the Crows, it is all set to be a cracker of a game on Saturday night from 7:10pm ACST.