Showdown brings many questions with it as Brenton Sanderson and Ken Hinkley prepare to face off

FORMER Geelong teammates Brenton Sanderson and Ken Hinkley have plenty on their minds as they face-off as rival coaches for first time in a Showdown.

Brenton Sanderson and Ken Hinkley

FORMER Geelong teammates Brenton Sanderson and Ken Hinkley will face each other for the first time as rival coaches in a Showdown on Sunday after dealing with vexing questions on derby specialists.

Adelaide coach Sanderson is expected to recall the experienced Graham Johncock, whose demotion to the SANFL at the weekend has proven misguided.

Johncock's response with seven goals in the SANFL and his reputation in Showdowns makes his recall to the Crows attack seem inevitable.

Port Adelaide coach Hinkley has more difficult decisions ahead of his first Showdown.

None is more challenging than deciding on a refit of the Power midfield with the experience of Robbie Gray, former captain Dom Cassisi and the hard-edged Matt Thomas.

A rethink on the balance of players on the Port midfield is forced by Hinkley noting his team's clearance work against Greater Western Sydney at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night was "awful".

The Power lost the clearances 24-39.

"I thought our clearances overall were a bit awful," Hinkley said. "The numbers will say that, and we've got some work to do in that area."

Gray is the toughest question on Port's selection agenda this week. The dangerous forward and clever midfielder has played four games in the SANFL in his recuperation from major knee surgery 12 months ago.

Gray's performance for West Adelaide on Saturday - 16 disposals, two goals and two goal assists - suggest he is now physically ready for AFL action.

And further pointing to a recall is how Hinkley suspects Gray can quickly rise to another level in his performance when inspired by the challenge of playing in the AFL.

There will be no question at Port on key forward Jay Schulz (back and groin) and midfielder Hamish Hartlett (back) who were withdrawn from action in the last term on Saturday night.

Hinkley declared at Alberton in his post-game presentations that both Schulz and Hartlett would be primed for the Showdown.

Hinkley subbed Schulz at the last change and played the same safety card with Hartlett 10 minutes later.

"Schulz is sore in the back and groin, but he is OK - we took him off because we did not want to take that risk," Hinkley said.

"There is nothing major. More than anything (the soreness) is from the way he goes after the ball - the way he lands sometimes.

"Hamish clearly took a whack in the back and there's some bruising."

Adelaide's rebound from its opening-round loss to Essendon to a character-defining 19-point win against Brisbane - plus the Crows' record of winning the past three Showdowns - has the club placed as the favourite in the early markets.

But Hinkley enters his first Showdown firmly aware of the burden of expectation that comes from the game that divides SA. He has been made aware by Sanderson.

"I certainly understand there is a bit on it," Hinkley said. "Sando told me early on that Showdowns are big and that we need to make them bigger.

"We know the Crows will be coming at us at 100 miles an hour. And we'll be coming straight back at them.

"But it is not about us (as coaches). It is team against team. As coaches we play a small part init, but this is 22 players against 22."