It’s one of the biggest events in the South Australian footy calendar, but never have we seen a Showdown blockbuster like this. 

Round Three marks the first Showdown hosted on Friday night, with first bounce at 7.50pm on April 1. 

Adelaide Senior Assistant Coach Scott Burns said a show of high-pressure, exciting, consistent footy would be the side’s biggest goal in the historic game. 

“If we want to be the team that’s consistently playing good footy and playing finals footy down the track, you’ve just got to be able to perform for four quarters under pressure (like the Showdown),” Burns told the media on Wednesday. 

“It’s a great test for some of those young players and I hope they come off the ground with a smile on their face going, ‘How good’s that… that’s why I love AFL footy’.”

With 2021 Club Champ Rory Laird available for selection, Burns said more experience would help galvanize fresh faces against a strong Port Adelaide side. 

“(Laird is) fit, he’s ready,” Burns said. 

“We’ll back the young fellas in but we certainly need the senior players to be stepping up and playing pretty solid football for us.”

The assistant coach said the Crows wouldn’t be distracted by past weeks’ performances on either side, instead looking to stamp their brand of footy in front of the home crowd. 

“(Port is) still building… but they’ll be ready to fire and ready to go and we’re absolutely loving the fact that this is going to be on early,” Burns said. 

“Bring your mouthguards… I don’t know if Will Smith will be out there but there’ll be a bit going on.”

The Crows’ weekend of home footy at Adelaide Oval kicks off with the SANFL ‘Showdown’ at 4.10pm before the AFL side looks to secure the Variety Showdown Shield at 7:50pm.

Tickets are available via Ticketek. Click here for details.

Adelaide's AFLW side will then take the stage against Fremantle in a Preliminary Final on Saturday, April 2, at 2.10pm. Entry will be free with no tickets required.