Tough onballer Rory Sloane says he's looking forward to the challenge of confronting Port Adelaide's explosive midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper in Saturday night's Showdown.
Taken with pick No.18 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, Powell-Pepper has enjoyed a strong start to his AFL career with the Power.
The big-bodied 19-year-old's physicality and ability to break tackles has seen him compared to Richmond's Dustin Martin.
Sloane told SEN said he eager to test himself against Powell-Pepper in front of a packed Adelaide Oval.
"I'll be expecting a couple of fend-offs from him," Sloane said.
"He can certainly fend off a few boys, so I'll be disappointed if I don't whack that arm down and nail the tackle.
"There are not too many kids that come along in their first season and play the way he does.
"He just looks like a man already."
Sloane envisages there'll be plenty of physical challenges in a clash that's being billed as the most anticipated Showdown in years.
With the Crows and Port sitting one and two on the ladder, he says the combat will be as hot as a September clash.
"The contested ball area of the (Showdown) definitely heightens, and you see that in finals and Grand Finals," Sloane said.
"Most Grand Finals are one-on-one contested footy and that's certainly like a Showdown.
"The build up is huge for South Australia in general, and there is already a stack of hype around this one.
"It will literally be so loud inside Adelaide Oval that (it) will be 'hair standing on end' type stuff."
There was concern following the Crows' 24-point win over Hawthorn last Saturday that Sloane might be unavailable to face the Power after he caught Hawk Tom Mitchell high in a contest.
The Match Review Panel ticked the hit off, but Sloane admitted it was a nervous wait to be cleared.
"I remember at the time thinking 'what just happened', because Tom Mitchell was on the ground and I had no idea he was even there.
"I knew I wasn't looking at him, and I didn't intentionally mean to bump him.
"It is a bit of holding your breath and hope for the best."
