Newcomb co-captain Tom Webster says the club is not shying away from the enormity of Saturday’s clash with Anglesea.
In what looms as the Power’s biggest home-and-away game since 2007, a victory will give them a slight edge over the reigning premier in the fight for an elimination final berth.
However, a loss will keep it outside the top five ahead of a challenging fortnight post the league-wide bye, with clashes against Geelong Amateur and Queenscliff.
“The boys have been building it up all of this week and over the bye,” Webster told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“You don’t want to try and pump it up too much, but it’s an eight-pointer this week.
“It means the world to us moving forward.”
After welcoming back Logan Wagener to Grinter Reserve from Leopold, along with his premiership teammates Andrew Pepper and Luke Justin, and Ben Clark from St Joseph’s, expectations were that Newcomb would challenge for finals.
Webster especially has been impressed by Clark, who is second only to Wagener at the Power for contested possessions per game, averaging 10.8, and third for overall tackles, having laid 74 in his nine appearances.
“Ben’s been amazing for us,” Webster said.
“(He is) much more of a quieter guy, but he’s just someone who does all the team things. He just works away; he knows his role.
“Internally, we’ve highlighted over the last three weeks, he’s had over 12 tackles in each of those games.
“In terms of signifying someone who represents our team and the values we hold, he’s fulfilling that 100 per cent.”
Anglesea held off a fast-finishing Newcomb by two points in the Round 2 clash at Ellimatta Reserve, which was the Power’s first outing of the season after having the bye on Easter weekend.
The Roos were without star forward Ayden Gras that day.
But after a second ten-goal haul of the season against Ocean Grove last week, he will be crucial to the final result, with Webster confirming he will get first crack at Gras’ influence.
“I love thatmatchupp with Gras,” he said.
Newcomb has made one change, welcoming back Thewin Robertson in place of Caleb Morrissy.
Captain Mitch McGuire will play his long-awaited first match of the season as Drysdale (8th, 3-8) faces a tough task against Geelong Amateur (2nd, 9-2) at KFC Oval.
The tough midfielder’s inclusion is among eight changes for the Hawks.
Lochie Treharne and under-18s eligible Callan Atkinson have been named to make their debuts, while Mitch Clark, Oliver Hudson, Quinn Taylor, and Luke Chapman have been recalled from the reserves.
Injuries will sideline experienced trio Tim Delaney, Ben Fennell and Lauchie Dalgleish, while Ollie Castro will be on Talent League duty with the Western Jets.
Big man Jamie Smith, who made his debut for the Hawks last week, is unavailable.
Ammos have included former Richmond AFL player Andrew Browne and the experienced Cam Lewis.
Harry Kershaw will be missing with a hamstring injury, while Jacob Edwards has been omitted.
Surf Coast (11th, 1-10) will be boosted by the inclusion of experienced trio Aaron Black, Luke Carteill and Ross Young as it hopes history repeats against Portarlington (7th, 4-7).
The Suns, who have also selected debutant Cayden Geljon, recorded their first win against the Demons in Round 2.
Zac Warne (unavailable), Ethan Waldron, Koby Nielsen, and Aaron Hansen go out of the team beaten by Torquay last week.
Portarlington welcome back experienced ruck Scott Greenhough and the classy Nick Lane, replacing Sam McDonald (unavailable) and Eamon Dowd.
Ladder leaders Queenscliff (1st, 10-1) have lost former Leopold defender Trent Thompson but welcome back Nick Rippon for a mouthwateringmatchupp with Torquay (3rd, 8-3) at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve.
Former Melbourne-listed big man Lucas Cook, who has not played at senior level since the Round 2 loss to the Coutas, has been named on an extended bench for the Tigers.
Ocean Grove (9th, 3-8) has lost leading goalkicker Lorne Waldron to an ankle injury ahead of its clash with Modwarre (10th, 2-9) at Ray Menzies Oval.
The experienced Anton Woods (ribs) is also sidelined. Harry Rolfs, and Luca Maheras, who made his debut last week, have been omitted.
Vice-captain Lachie Joyce, Harry Cashin and Kirby Reilly return, with Jack Thomson back after being omitted by the Geelong Falcons.
Barwon Heads has the bye.
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