WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Stadium, Sunday 26 February, 2.40pm
LAST TIME: Carlton 16.15 (111) d Port Adelaide 7.7 (49) round 11, 2011 at AAMI Stadium
Carlton 11.19 (85) d Adelaide 12.7 (79), round 5, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Adelaide 16.15 (111) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), round 19, 2011 at AAMI Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide

THE FOUR POINTS
Adelaide
1. New coach Brenton Sanderson has flagged a more physical Adelaide unit in 2012 and several players have added plenty of bulk to their frames. With one of the youngest lists in the AFL (5th), 'Sando' has plenty to work with.

2. Young gun Brad Crouch has been given special permission to play in the NAB Cup and after impressing in Adelaide's internal trial, the club was said to be seeking permission to play the 17-year-old in the regular season. A star of the future.

3. Taylor Walker and Kurt Tippett are to work as a damaging duo in 2012, as the Crows search for a game-winning combination. The two paired up in Adelaide's internal trial but can they make the impact Sanderson so desires?

4. With the loss of Scott Stevens to retirement and Phil Davis to Greater Westerm Sydney, Adelaide will sport a new-look defence in 2012. Ex-Swan Lewis Johnston, Daniel Talia and Sam Shaw are all fighting for defensive positions and will get their chances to impress during the NAB Cup.

Carlton
1. With first-choice full-back Michael Jamison missing with a stress reaction in his back, the spotlight will be on the Blues' defence in Adelaide. Second-year defender Matthew Watson played well in an intra-club match and will be keen to put his best foot forward in Jamison's absence.

2. Coach Brett Ratten has forecast taking an inexperienced squad into the opening round of the NAB Cup, which will give the club's fans the opportunity to get their first look at a few youngsters. Recent first-round draft pick Josh Bootsma was a bit of a smoky back in November, but his summer on the track has created a bit of buzz at Visy Park.

3. The Blues are a popular choice to finish in the top-four at the end of the regular season and, regardless of the cattle on the park, Ratten will want to see how the tweaks he has made to his game plan over the summer translate in a match situation. The defensive press at kick-ins was a feature of the club's intra-club match.

4. Just how does Ratten plan to utilise a fit and firing Matthew Kreuzer? The star ruckman has been the talk of Carlton's pre-season after recovery from a knee reconstruction prevented him from reaching peak fitness last season. His use either predominantly in the ruck or as a forward has been one of the main questions about the Blues recently.

Port Adelaide
1. All eyes will fall on the Power's pick No.6 at last year's NAB AFL Draft Chad Wingard after he wowed the crowd at Port's internal trial match last Friday night. Wingard's polished display suggested he's ready to make an immediate impact in the big league.

2. Power coach Matthew Primus' number one priority heading into season 2012 is to deliver a far more competitive outfit than last year. Managing just three wins in 2011. it's hard to see the Power doing any worse, but how will they stack up against premiership contender Carlton?

3. Brad Ebert's arrival from West Coast is a huge win for the Power. The Ebert name is perhaps the most revered in South Australian football and as a genuine leader at the Power, expect Port's latest Ebert to play a significant role this season.

4. Port's new coaching staff Josh Carr, Shaun Rehn, Brad Gotch and Tyson Edwards have brought a host of fresh thoughts to the club and there is a genuine feeling of optimism surrounding Alberton. Will the new coaches' ideas translate into success?

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL

Click here to purchase tickets to Adelaide's opening round of NAB Cup matches against Port Adelaide and Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Sunday