LUXBET SAYS: Hawthorn $1.34. Port Adelaide $3.40.
THE GAME
Hawthorn is clear favourite to reach its third straight grand final, but Port Adelaide's form means this encounter is far from a fait accompli.
The big question is whether the Power's kamikaze run can undo the reigning premiers.
The Hawks are playing in a preliminary final for the fourth consecutive year. Their past three have been decided by less than a kick.
Saturday promises to be another enthralling chapter.
TEAMS
Hawthorn
In: Suckling
Out: Sewell (Omitted)
Emergencies: Hartung, McEvoy, Sewell
Port Adelaide
No change
Emergencies: Impey, Mitchell, Newton
PAST BATTLES
Although that match is not as relevant as the Power might hope.
The Hawks were missing a host of key players including star goalkicker Jarryd Roughead, ball magnet Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli and club champion Josh Gibson.
Port's home ground advantage was another factor.
We'll be wearing our black guernsey with white shorts against Hawthorn in the Prelim this Saturday #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/FWPWvslBC9
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) September 15, 2014
HAWKS STRONG IN THE CLINCHES
Port's express ball movement has won truckloads of praise, and rightly so. But the Power on Saturday will confront what's likely to be a barrage of pressure they have not yet experienced this season.
That's because the Hawks are one of the best at pressuring the ball carrier and forcing a mistake.
In the qualifying final against Geelong, the Hawks recorded one of their highest tackle counts for the year with 81.
With a week's rest, you can guarantee Alastair Clarkson will be demanding that stat is repeated.
The Hawks love a scrap.
The Hawks are the number one clearance team in the competition, with Jordan Lewis the number one man with an average of 5.6 clearances per game.
If they can’t get the turnover on the first attempt, the Hawks will be happy to force repeat stoppages.
They don't care what it looks like as a spectacle. Because with a finals-hardened midfield led by the extractor Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn will beat Port Adelaide if the match turns into an arm-wrestle.
Both sides find scoring easy, so whichever forward line has the most supply from its onballers will have one foot in the grand final. 
Finals veteran Sam Mitchell will again be a midfield weapon for the Hawks. Photo: Getty
POWER AT FULL STRENGTH
Tom Jonas is expected to make himself available for Saturday's preliminary final against Hawthorn, despite being subbed out against Fremantle with a corked hip.
The Power could pull a surprise by recalling Jarman Impey to do a shutdown job on small forward Paul Puopolo, but in-form Cam O'Shea could do that job too.
Having such a settled team is a major plus for Port Adelaide's coaching staff, and playing group.
COLD HARD FACT
Hawthorn is the AFL’s best kicking team and also its most accurate in front of goal.
Clarko's troops have kicked at an outstanding 64.7 per cent this season — four per cent better than any rival and seven per cent better than Port.
SMALL FORWARDS ARE PORT'S BIG HOPE
It was the crumbers who kick-started Port Adelaide's comeback against Fremantle.
The Power extracted 12 of its 15 goals from Robbie Gray (four), Chad Wingard (four), Ollie Wines (three) and Angus Monfries (one).
It was the same against Hawthorn earlier in the season, Monfries (four), Wingard (three) and Gray (two) combined for nine of the 15 goals delivered the four points and Port top spot on the ladder.
Gray is in especially hot form, and will demand plenty of Hawks attention on Saturday.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Power vice-captain Brad Ebert says shutting down Hawthorn’s elite kicks is the key to Port Adelaide's hopes pulling off a stunning finals upset.
“We have to stop their elite ball users and nullify their skill execution," Ebert said.
"They’ve been able to do that for years now, they’ve been elite at it and that’s why they won the premiership last year."
LAST FIVE GAMES
Hawthorn
W 50 Melbourne
L 19 Fremantle
W 23 Geelong
W 65 Collingwood
W 36 Geelong – Qualifying Final
Port Adelaide
W 9 Gold Coast
W 103 Carlton
L 8 Fremantle
W 57 Richmond – Elimination Final
W 22 Fremantle - Semi-Final
LAST FIVE BETWEEN TEAMS
Port, Haw, Haw, Haw, Haw
FINAL WORD
The best way to limit Port Adelaide's helter skelter game is by denying the Power the ball - and there is no better equipped team to do that than Hawthorn.
The Hawks are the AFL’s best kicking team, and by playing 'keepings off' on the wide expanses of the MCG, they will starve Port Adelaide of forward entries.
Hawthorn is renowned for kicking efficiency, and that means they should kick a winning score.
The Power will give the premiers a fright, but we doubt they can match the Hawks for all four quarters, and that might be what costs them a grand final berth.
We're tipping Hawthorn by eight points in a ripping contest.