The bulldogs take on the inform hawks at Memorial Oval this Saturday in a crucial round of SGL football.
Port is suffering from a loss to Central last weekend, while the hawks, after a mid season slump, came back into form with a good win over Lions.
West is currently holding onto second position on the ladder by percentage and will be out to consolidate this spot and give themselves the right to take on the bulldogs in the second semi final in a fortnight.
Port has won on both occasions that that have played West this season.
Both have been close encounters – 17 points in round seven here at Port Pirie and 16 points in round 12 at Port Augusta.
The bulldogs welcomed captain Andrew Fleming back into the side last week. He played about half the match and was an influence when on the field.
Norm Wombat played about half a game in the seconds last week and could return to the league side this week. Wombat usually plays well against the hawks and his quickness around the ground will be handy.
Hayden Warren was back in good form last week with four goals and Chris Stephens who usually gets the job on Warren is still out with injury and so he could cause problems for the bulldog defence.
Another of the bulldog’s key defenders Jamie McNamara could also be missing so it will be up to Jack Clarke who played well last week and Ben Luteria to hold the bulldog backline together.
Ray Stapleton also kicked four goals last week while Matthew Woolford is another danger player who has had two good games against the bulldogs earlier in the year
kicking seven goals in the two games.
Port in the past few games have been having problems kicking goals. Last week Lewis Johnston kicked four but he will not be in the line up this week.
Adam Wilson and Brodie Mudge will need to have their kicking boots on.
Simon Treloar who kicked seven goals against West in round seven is not having the influence up forward that he had early in the year and Jordan Coombe, another goal kicker, will be out with injury this week.
West will also be without their key defender Richie Hobbs who broke his arm against the bulldogs last time the sides played.
The midfield will be where the game is won or lost.
Michael Burford was down on form last week and will this week come up against Ray Stapleton and Daniel Buckskin, while both sides have good line ups in the centre.
Port has Tom Clarke, Andrew Fleming, Norm Wombat, Jesse Penny and Greg Phillips who was in good form last week, while West has captain Adam Zubrinich, Jordan Warren, Nick Collins and Rhys Dadleh, therefore both teams should provide quick movement of the ball into their respective forward lines.
West is still fighting for a double chance that the bulldogs have already sewn up, so it gives the hawks more to play for this weekend.
But no doubt Port will be looking to find good form going into the finals.
It will be a tough and exciting encounter with both teams getting ready for finals footy. I think Port will win at home in a close one.
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