Showdown 46 could be a tale of two small forwards — one that is playing and one that isn’t

Showdown 46 could be a tale of two small forwards — one that is playing and one that isn’t, according to Crows co-captain Taylor Walker and his Power adversary Ollie Wines.

Eddie Betts of the Crows. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

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“I love watching Robbie Gray but I’m not shattered that he won’t be playing this weekend’’.

With those words, Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker summed up one of the key reasons the Crows will enter Showdown 46 as favourites, despite taking until round seven to break into the top eight.

Port Adelaide superstar Gray, who has won a record four Showdown Medals, will miss a second consecutive week with a broken hand in what looms as a game-changing injury.

Four-times Showdown Medallist Robbie Gray, who will be missing this week, celebrates a crucial goal in Showdown 44 last year. Picture: SARAH REED.

“You’ve seen what he's done in Showdowns before,’’ noted Walker.

“He's an A-grade player of our competition, so for Port not to have him is great for us but probably not so great for Ollie (Power co-captain Ollie Wines) to not have one of his best players out there with him.

“He won’t cause headaches this week.’’

Small forward/midfielder Gray won his first Showdown Medal in round six, 2010, and followed with best-afields in round five, 2015, and both derbies last year — in rounds four and 20.

He has kicked 38 goals in Showdowns — ranked only behind Walker (39).

“It is tough (without him) because he is obviously a star,’’ Wines said of Gray.

“Particularly in Showdowns he’s got that influence where he can turn a game in a quarter.

“But we back our other guys.’’

While one of the game’s premier small forwards will be sitting on the sidelines, another one will take centre stage at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Crow Eddie Betts, who starred in his 300th game in round five with six goals and kicked a brilliant sealer against Fremantle on Sunday night, will be at the centre of Port's planning as it tries to level the Showdown ledger at 23 all.

Former Blue Betts, who has bagged 578 goals in his career, has booted 35 goals in 10 Showdowns — an incredible strike rate of 3.5.

“We joke about it because it seems like every Crows game we watch when we're not playing them and Eddie has a quiet day or might just kick one or two, we’re like, ‘the Showdown is coming up so he'll kick his eight’,’’ Wines said.

“It’s a genuine form finder for him. I’ve never played a Showdown where Eddie doesn’t show up or do some special things.’’

Eddie Betts celebrates his last-term goal with Taylor Walker. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Wines said the Port defenders usually planned to “be pretty physical with him’’ but that Betts’ running power and elite ground level work made him hard to stop.

“I think he’s got that licence where he can run and I don’t think there is a better crumber off the pack, so it is hard to be pretty physical when someone is bolting straight at the pack and reads the play so well,’’ Wines said.

“I think you’ve just got to hope you might catch him on and off day.’’

The Crows will be without their triple Showdown Medallist Sam Jacobs (knee) but Walker has been buoyed by the performances of his back-up, Reilly O’Brien, in the past five weeks and believes he can compete well against the Power’s elite ruck pairing of Paddy Ryder and Scott Lycett.

O’Brien, in just his seventh game, was best afield in Adelaide’s 17-point win against Fremantle on Sunday.

“He’s been outstanding,’’ Walker said.