KEITH Thomas has spent much of his life building up the Port Adelaide-Norwood rivalry, the oldest in the SANFL.

On Saturday, he may see the last meaningful Magpies-Redlegs derby at Alberton Oval.

After growing up as a Magpies fan, Thomas became a Norwood premiership captain, repeatedly breaking Port's spiritual heart - never more so than in the 1984 SANFL grand final.

As a Norwood director, Thomas did more to pitch for the survival of the Magpies, arguing Norwood and the SANFL was poorer without Port. He went as far as to lobby for Anzac Day to be permanently assigned to Magpies-Redlegs games.

Against this backdrop, Thomas now the Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive finds himself in a bizarre and challenging place.

He is arguing for the AFL-based Power and Crows to have teams in the SANFL league competition a debate that could have the Port-Norwood rivalry usurped by SANFL Showdowns between the Crows and Power.

On Saturday, Thomas will measure the passion for the Magpies-Redlegs rivalry at Alberton Oval. It is a day for statements from both supporter bases that will be measured at the turnstiles.

His Norwood mates will reaffirm they do not want AFL reserves in the SANFL league series. The Magpies clan has concerns with being an AFL reserves team.

Thomas issued these assurances:

PORT will always wear the black-and-white jumper and not teal in the SANFL.

PORT will always be the "Magpies'' and not "Power'' in the SANFL.

He dealt with the big issues of conflict that will come next year if the SANFL is a 10-team league series with the Crows and Power reserves.

KEN McGREGOR will keep the final say at selection and team placements of the Magpies league side, regardless of the agenda set by Power coach Ken Hinkley.

"The SANFL coach will have the authority to pick his side,'' said Thomas.

THE CROWS will not replace Norwood as Port's major SANFL rival.

"The Magpies always will be judged by how they perform against Norwood and vice-versa,'' said Thomas.

"That will not change there is too much history attached to the game.

"We will actively promote Port Adelaide-Norwood games. They will remain important to Port Adelaide and Norwood people.

"There is too much equity in the Magpies-Redlegs rivalry for anyone to sacrifice all the history that game brings.

"Sure, there is the Showdown potential the Magpies-Crows rivalry brings to the SANFL.

"But we are not going to diminish the Magpies-Redlegs battles along the way.''

This is to be tested, particularly tomorrow at Alberton Oval and on television next year.

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Originally published as Old rivalry battles a new showdown