The stakes
It’s not elimination, but it’s like taking a taxi to your destination as opposed to walking there with your entire luggage lumped on your back. History is often rewritten, but no AFL team has yet managed to win a flag from outside the top four since the current finals format was introduced. That means that Saturday’s match between Fremantle and Port Adelaide, of which the winner will secure a top-fourposition, is vital. The loser can still win the flag, but it’ll be a mighty hard walk.

Six-day break from Brisbane
It’s the first question that has been asked to Ross Lyon during interviews this week. How much will the six-day break travelling back from Brisbane affect Freo’s performance against Port, which has had eight days to recover? Lyon doesn’t appear concerned, instead choosing to back his club’s meticulous preparation to get the players to the starting line fit and firing. The five losses from six matches where Freo had a six-day break this year also doesn’t worry Lyon. "It would be (relevant) if the past counted," the senior coach said. "But I've got a strong philosophy that the past is irrelevant. It's what you do today and tomorrow that counts.”

‘Pav’ trains, he plays
Lyon said the equation was simple for Freo captain Matthew Pavlich. If he trains on Thursday, he will play against Port. If he cannot suit up for the closed session, hewill miss Saturday’s game. Pavlich was a late withdrawal from last Sunday’s game against Brisbane after he felt tightness in his quad. If the skipper can’t go, Freo fans can take heart in Matt Taberner’s performance at the Gabba which earned the young key forward the round 22 NAB Rising Star nomination.

Port back in form
From rounds 15 to 21 this season, Port Adelaide only won two out of seven matches. Before that it had set the pace by winning 10 of its first 11 matches. But last Friday night the Power appeared to be back to its running best, piling on 140 points in a 103-point win over Carlton. Jay Schulz (concussion) and Justin Westhoff (knee) were sore, but both have been cleared, meaning Port will come to Perth with nearly its best available side. Game on.