Essendon jets over to the Adelaide Oval Saturday night to face Port Adelaide in Round 16 action.

Coming off tough losses last week it becomes a huge game for both sides as we dissect this week’s burning questions.

Will the crowd be a factor?

It’s been well documented that Port Adelaide has created a hostile environment at their new home, the Adelaide Oval. The Power has lost just one game at their home ground this season to cross-town rivals Adelaide.

Knocking off teams such as Hawthorn, Geelong and Fremantle at the ‘Portress’ this season has set a demoralising trend for travelling teams.

The Bombers are no strangers to a big crowd and as Travis Colyer pointed out earlier this week there is nothing better than silencing an interstate crowd early to help in coming away with the win.

Can the Bomber midfield run with the Power?

The Port Adelaide midfield is one of the fittest in the competition, constantly grinding teams down throughout the game, and then running away in the final quarter.

Essendon’s midfield will need to be prepared to push themselves past exhaustion as the Power skipper Travis Boak headlines the hard-running midfield of Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Kane Cornes and Jared Polec.

Midfield coach Simon Goodwin will no doubt be putting the onus on the group this week to work together to take it right up to the Power mids and turn the tables on Saturday night.

Will recent form help the Dons?

Essendon has won the last four matches between these two teams by a confortable margin of 28 points.

While Port Adelaide has shown significant improvement over the last year and a half, the Bombers always seem to match up well with the Power and have the wood over them in recent years.

As big as the hype is over Port Adelaide’s current form on top of the home ground advantage, the Bombers will run out Saturday night knowing that they have done it before and they can no doubt do it again.

What changes will be made to the Bomber side?

Spots in the Essendon side are starting to heat up with a few big inclusions looming for this weekends match.

Jason Winderlich should slot back into forward line after serving his one-week suspension, while Tayte Pears has done everything he can to put his hand up for selection on the back of his solid performance in his first full game in the VFL.

While Tom Bellchambers and Elliot Kavanagh will be be pushing to regain their spots back in the side after both being omitted last week, as well as Mark Baguley who will work hard during the week to overcome a back spasm.

Chance to fire for the forward line?

Port Adelaide’s full back and centre-half back Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile are both in serious doubt to play this weekend giving the Bomber forward line a chance to fire.

Both Trengove and Carlile have been focal points down back for the Power this season, working in unison to close down opposition key forwards.

Young forwards Joe Daniher and Patrick Ambrose will be able to free the shackles playing against potentially some lesser known opponents and both provide a good target in the Bombers attacking half to help get the team over the line.