Premiership contenders Brisbane and Port Adelaide will face off at the Gabba after disappointing ends to their 2021 campaigns.
The Lions will be aiming to end Port’s six-game winning streak in the first round, their last defeat dating back to 2015 against Fremantle.
Brisbane will be helped by the return of striker Cam Rayner, who missed the 2021 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
For Port Adelaide, visitors will be without star Charlie Dixon after the big man opted for ankle surgery last month.
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But the Power will deploy new signing Jeremy Finlayson after leaving GWS in the last trade period.
Speaking from Adelaide Airport, Power coach Ken Hinkley admitted he faced a “difficult task”.
“Brisbane have been that good team for many years under Chris Fagan. Brisbane to Brisbane is a tough task for any club – and we welcome the task and we are delighted by the challenge,” he said.
“Brisbane have been able to overpower us a bit around footy… (but) at our best we can challenge any team in the competition – not just Brisbane.”
The medical substitutes are Harry Sharp (Brisbane) and Steven Motlop (Port Adelaide).
Lions rookie Darcy Fort scored the opening goal of the game to start his Brisbane career on the right foot.
In ominous signs for power, Robbie Gray went down to the Chambers early with a knee problem, although he returned later.
But Port got another scare as youngster Xavier Duursma came off the pitch soon after, reportedly with a collarbone injury.
Travis Boak put the Power on the board late in the period in a low-scoring affair.
Fort then netted his second goal at the quarter-time siren to make a big impact on the game early.
The match kicks off at The Gabba from 8:10 p.m. AEDT.
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