VENUE & TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday August 8, 4:40PM AEST

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 20: Wins: Port Adelaide 14, Essendon 6

LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 17.7 (109) def Essendon 16. 10 (106) at Eithad Stadium, Round 7, 2010

LAST TIME AT VENUE: As above

WALKING WOUNDED: The Bombers lost Heath Hocking (suspension) and Stewart Crameri (shoulder) ahead of this match while Jobe Watson (concussion) and Andrew Welsh (concussion) are expected to come up after knocks last week. Michael Hurley (soreness) and Tayte Pears (soreness) will be tested ahead of what is the Bombers' last game of the regular season.

Port Adelaide may get back Dean Brogan (calf) after he pulled out last week but there are no further players likely to return with plenty listed to miss the rest of the season, including Hamish Hartlett, Jasper Pittard and Paul Stewart.

FORM:
Essendon's Past Five:
Round 22: Loss, 20.14 (133) - 11.11 (77) v West Coast, Patersons Stadium
Round 21: Win, 23.12 (150) - 15.11 (101) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
Round 20: Win, 15.10 (100) - 14.15 (99) v Sydney, Etihad Stadium
Round 19: Loss, 14.8 (92) - 25.16 (166) v Collingwood, MCG
Round 18: Loss, 12.7 (79) - 24.9 (153) v Carlton, MCG

Port Adelaide Past Five:
Round 22: Loss, 24.13 (157) - 15.7 (97) v Western Bulldogs, AAMI Stadium
Round 21: Loss, 5.2 (32) - 31.11 (197) v Hawthorn, MCG
Round 20: Loss, 3.3 (21) - 23.21 (159) v Collingwood, AAMI Stadium
Round 19: Loss, 11.13 (79) - 16.15 (111) v Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
Round 17: Loss, 14.8 (92) - 17.11 (113) v Melbourne, TIO Stadium

The Bombers have probably done enough to get into the eight, but need a win in this match to make it sure with the bye to come in the final round. The back-to-back wins over Sydney and Bulldogs got them their momentum back, but the trip to Perth to fact the in-form Eagles did them no favours with a heavy loss and a couple of injuries to boot.

Port's worst-ever season has only one slim glimmer of hope - they can avoid the wooden spoon with a win in either of the final two games. That seems highly unlikely after a run of ten consecutive losses and 15 from their past 16. The Power do boast an extraordinary record against Essendon winning their past six clashes and 12 of the past 13.

WHO'S HOT:

Dyson Heppell - Is an absolute shoe-in for the Rising Star this year after a stellar first 21 games. Was great in a losing side in Perth last week, with 26 touches, his sixth plus-25 possession game this season.
John Butcher - The Power have had to bide their time with this promising kid but with a six-goal haul in a losing side last week makes it look like it has been worth the wait. That was just his second game.

WE THINK:
History tells you Port Adelaide are in with a serious shot in this match having not lost to Essendon since 2004, but in this instance you can take history and put it in the rubbish bin.

The Power have been nothing short of an uncompetitive rabble this year and while the development of youngsters such as Jackson Trengove, who re-signed this week, John Butcher and Matthew Lobbe, have been positives, there have been a wealth of negatives including several key players who have gone backwards.

They put up a bit more of a fight against the Dogs last week, but only after trailing by ten goals early in the game. Matthew Primus has his hands full getting this list anywhere near the finals over the next few years and desperately needs some proper help in his coaching department, especially in the midfield.

The Bombers' task is simple. If they play their style of footy and use their superior midfield and outside pace to maximum advantage then they will win in comfortably.

What they want to see is key players get through injury free and Michael Hurley, arguably their most important player, make a successful return after a week off.

There is another factor at play here should the Bombers get on top early. If they can make up some percentage on Sydney and St Kilda and those teams lose on the weekend, they could find themselves as high as sixth at season's end. Essendon by 57 points.