PORT ADELAIDE captain Connor Rozee will captain his first Showdown this Thursday night, despite a late scare during last week’s win over St Kilda. 

Rozee sat out part of the final quarter as a precaution after feeling tightness in his hamstring, however the 24-year-old has since tested strongly and has been deemed eligible to play. 

Rozee spoke to the Adelaide media on Tuesday alongside Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson to talk injuries, Showdown rivalry and the possibility of Jeremy Finlayson returning to the side this week. 

Rozee on overcoming a hamstring issue 
“I did some testing today and got through everything so a little bit surprising after the game, I thought it might be a little bit sore, but I think during the game I knew it wasn’t anything major. It was more precautionary when I came off so got through my testing and will see how I go tomorrow as well. 

“We've obviously got captain's run and we're coming off a short break, so we'll use all the break we've got. I'll probably do some more strides tomorrow and I'm sure if it's not feeling 100 per cent I'll say, but at the moment I'm feeling really good. 

Rozee on Saturday’s scan 
“There was sort of a little nick (that showed up on the scan) but it wasn’t part of the main muscle. I don't know the science too well but apparently that's a lot better than what it could have been and it heals a lot quicker. Again, I'm feeling good and did a lot of testing today and got through it all. 

“I trust my physios and doctors and they've told me that if you're feeling good and it’s not a major injury then we'll test you and see how you go. I got through everything today like I said, and I'll do a little more tomorrow and make sure it's 100 per cent but I'm feeling good. 

“These are games you look forward to at the start of the year. I was a little bit disappointed during the game (on Friday) because obviously you don’t know how long it's going to be but yeah, I've received some pretty positive news over the last couple of days.”  

Rozee on if he felt burdened to play given other injuries in the side 
“Not necessarily, I won't play if I'm not feeling 100 per cent. It's disappointing that we've obviously got Pep (Sam Powell-Pepper) and Aliir that have gone down but that certainly doesn’t put pressure on me to push through anything that I wouldn’t normally. I'm approaching it like I would any other game. 

Rozee on the mood following Friday’s win over St Kilda 
“It's a bit of a weird mood because you're obviously really proud of how the boys performed to win the game with only one on the bench. Then there's obviously the disappointment of a long-term injury especially with Pep. We're a really supportive group and we've got around him. One of the strengths around our group is our depth so we've got lots of guys that are ready to come in and fill that role.” 

Rozee on losing the last two Showdowns 
“I don't want to give too much away but I don’t think there's anything specific. We probably haven't played our best football and I think it's on us, we own that we probably haven’t come with our best version of ourselves in the last few Showdowns. We've probably proven over the last couple of years that when we're on, we can be a really good side and beat good sides but we just haven’t quite had that edge and that spark to get us over the line so I'll make sure the boys are really ready to go this week.” 

Rozee on making improvements as a team 
“There are certainly things that we feel like we can improve on and that’s not necessarily just those big games, that's games in general. There are things throughout the whole year where (you play) sides who are at the top of the ladder, or the bottom of the ladder, it doesn’t really matter to us, it's how we're playing and how we respond to when we lose and when we win. There are small adjustments that need to be made leading into the game and we'll make those.”

Rozee on Jeremy Finlayson being available after suspension 
“I think he's done all the steps that he needs to over the last couple of weeks. The boys have been really supportive around the club and we all understand that he did the wrong thing and from that point, he's done all the things he needs to, to grow and learn as a person and the guys have been really supportive around the club. I'm sure if he gets his opportunity this week he'll grasp it with both hands. He's had some programs and things he's had to do away from football and he's working through those and the club has been helping him with all the off-field stuff. At training I've noticed he's come with a real edge to try and get better and be supportive back to the group. If he gets his opportunity (to play), I'm sure he'll crack in.”  

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Rozee on the challenges of being captain 
“There are certainly going to be different challenges along the way and (the Finlayson issue) was one of them. You know that when you take on a leadership role there are going to be things throughout the year that you have to respond to, but I feel like with the support of the other people in our leadership group, as well as Ken and CD (Chris Davies) and the rest of the club, we've navigated it pretty well. I'm sure there will be things throughout the rest of the season as well that we'll have to tackle head on, but I feel like we've dealt with things pretty well so far.”