Adelaide coach Neil Craig has, for now, discarded the biggest AFL cliche - one week at a time.

The Crows mentor says he's focused on the long-term when it comes to his novice ruck division in the showdown against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Crows ruckmen Ivan Maric and James Sellar boast just 46 AFL games between them.

Port's proven ruck pair Brendan Lade and Dean Brogan have a combined 365 games experience.

The last time the arch rivals met, in round six this year, Brogan claimed best afield honours as he laid the foundations for Port's convincing 26-point victory.

"Their rucks were very good," Craig recalled of the round six clash.

"They're both very experienced ruckmen, quality ruckmen.

"Both Ivan Maric and James Sellar have been good, solid performers for us.

"Apart from the result, that is important to both clubs, but the bigger picture for Sellar and Maric to play against Brogan and Lade is an opportunity you don't pass up in terms of where they need to go as players as well."

Craig's Crows had a seven-game winning streak snapped by pacesetters St Kilda last week - Adelaide managed just three goals after quarter-time in their 57-point loss.

But Craig still rates the round six defeat to Port as his side's worst of the season.

"We were poor, probably our poorest game for the year," he said.

"You could say `well what about last week against St Kilda?' but we were poor against Port.

"They (Port) have won the last two (showdowns) in a row, so we've got the challenge ahead of us."

But Craig's coaching counterpart Mark Williams, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Power this week, has claimed underdog status for Sunday's fixture.

"Adelaide's form has been outstanding, they've beaten lots of sides in a row," Williams said.

"There's no doubt the form would say Adelaide are the ones in front, but we've got a few things coming right for us at this time of year, so we'll see how we come up against a real quality, top four side."

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