WHILE it’s now official that the Brisbane Lions will contest the finals for the first time in five years, they are desperate to stop any late-season slide.

And that starts on Saturday night with a match against old foes Port Adelaide at the Gabba.

The Lions have not won for the three weeks, but the Power’s loss to Carlton on Saturday ensured they could not miss September action.

However, Lions coach Michael Voss has more than his team’s slow starts to worry about, with late season fades a trend that has gone back five seasons now.

Not since they made the 2004 Grand Final have the Lions finished any season with a semblance of momentum.

Port Adelaide have been all over the shop this season yet are still in a position to make the top eight if they can win their final two matches.

The two teams met only seven weeks ago and it was a dirty day for the Lions, suffering a 48-point loss and a two-week suspension to Jared Brennan for head-butting Josh Carr.

Power wizard Daniel Motlop is in line for selection for the visitors after nine weeks on the sideline with a broken ankle.

Forward Scout:
The club: Port Adelaide

2009 to date: In many ways the Power have been the most frustrating team in the league and a nightmare for their own supporters. They started the season strongly, winning three of their first four, but have failed to win back-to-back games since.

That comes from their inability to win on the road, where the Power have won just once this season. Despite this they are still in the race for the top eight with a 9-11 record.

But when they lose they lose big, by 50 points or more on six occasions. Wins over Essendon, Adelaide and the Lions has shown Port Adelaide can mix it with finals contenders.

The coach: Mark Williams is in his 11th season at Alberton, and with an amazing record signed a contract extension earlier this season. In 257 games, Choco has 146 wins at the superb rate of 56%.

He has also led the Power in 16 finals this decade – more than any other club. But you can sense the Power boss is at the end of his rope with his players.

With the number of hidings his talented team has copped this season, Williams is becoming less and less subtle with criticism of his men, including questioning the future of a number of key players after Sunday’s loss to Carlton.

As he showed earlier this season against the Lions though, Williams can lift his team to back-against the-wall victories.

The gun: He’s not the most consistent player, but there’s little doubt Danyle Pearce is the Power’s most influential.

When he goes well, Port Adelaide usually win, like they did when he shredded the Lions with 35 touches in round 14.

However Pearce is also developing a reputation for struggling to deal with good tags. His form has mirrored the Power’s with a drop-off after the season’s mid-point. His two best games after round 11 have resulted in Port Adelaide’s wins.

The sleeper:  Daniel Motlop. The silky-skilled small forward has been on the sidelines for much of the season, but is in the mix to play the Lions on Saturday night.

Before he broke his ankle in round 12 against the Bulldogs he was having another outstanding season. In 10 matches the 27-year-old kicked 20.22 to follow up from last season’s breakthrough 57-goal haul.

Motlop also has previous form at the Gabba, booting six goals against the Lions in a seven-point win in 2007, including a miraculous right footed banana-kick from 50m on the left boundary line.

The bolter: Amid the patchy form of his team, Robert Gray has been a shining light for the Power. He has kicked 30 goals from his 19 games this season and has proved equally adept overhead and on the ground.

Gray is just 21 but is quickly proving a reliable target up front. He has kicked multiple goals in the past five matches.

Strengths: At its best Port Adelaide is a tremendous free running side with great goal scoring ability.

They move the ball quickly from defence and through the midfield to a potent forward line. Tredrea is a strong target once again, and Gray, Westhoff, Ebert and hopefully Motlop can all kick multiple goals.

And if Pearce, Shaun Burgoyne and Kane Cornes can get firing in the middle, watch out.

Weaknesses: As good as they are, Port Adelaide struggles when their game isn't  clicking. Some players are not accountable enough when the ball is going the other way.

The Power struggle to halt momentum, and if you can get three or four goals in quick succession, a match-winning break is usually just around the corner. Clamping down on Pearce is usually the first step to a victory over the Power.

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