Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi expects AFL rivals Adelaide to be galvanised by the resignation of coach Neil Craig.

Cassisi has implored his teammates to ignore the upheaval at the Crows ahead of their grudge match on Sunday.

Craig quit as Crows coach on Monday, with Mark Bickley to take the reins for the clash of the arch rivals.

Cassisi and Port players went through an identical scenario last season when Mark Williams stepped down as coach and was replaced by Matthew Primus with seven games remaining.

"It is a pretty difficult time for players to go through, a change of coach," Cassisi told reporters on Wednesday.

"It is your boss and no matter what job you're in or what industry you're in, when your boss does change it's a pretty significant change.

"But the reality is, you have just got to move on with it as soon as possible and really stay galvanised as a playing group.

"These things often can make the playing group a little bit stronger, even though it is unfortunate for the ... coach."

Port enter Sunday's twilight fixture last on the ladder, with Adelaide struggling in 14th spot, and Cassisi urged his teammates to forget the Crows' tumult.

"We are just going to focus on our preparation and worry about what we can control. We can't control what has happened down the road (at Adelaide)," he said.

"I think both clubs have got a lot to play for.

"History has shown with the Showdowns, it doesn't matter what has happened with the week leading into it or weeks leading into it, they're just big games.

"Last year we won a Showdown after losing nine games so what has happened in the week leading into it is irrelevant, both teams will come out fighting."

Cassisi also cautioned Crows fans from taunting Port with wooden spoons during the AAMI Stadium encounter.

"The season is not finished yet, they (the Crows) have only won two games more than us, so it could be a bit of a dangerous path to go down," he said.

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