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AFLW premiership cup ambassador Erin Phillips says Adelaide star Danielle Ponter will most likely play in their qualifying final against North Melbourne.
Danielle Ponter appears likely to get up for Adelaide's massive AFLW qualifying final test against North Melbourne.
Premiership cup ambassador and former teammate Erin Phillips says she's "99 per cent" confident the Crows star will be ready for the Friday night clash at Ikon Park.
Ponter rolled her ankle in last weekend's win over Geelong and the Crows have confirmed she will need to pass a fitness test.
The Kangaroos are the premiership favourites with a draw the only blemish in their outstanding season, and they beat Adelaide at Norwood Oval late last month by eight points.
"I sent her (Ponter) a message ... she seems like she'll be fine," Phillips told AAP.
"If she doesn't pull up that would be a huge surprise for me. She's one of those players ... she's tough, resilient.
"If she gets going she's really hard to stop - and one of those players, probably the last time they met, would have liked to have a few kicks back."
Phillips was referring to the Crows having two more scoring shots against North in week nine, but kicking a wasteful 4.9.
The three-time Crows premiership player said accuracy will be crucial against North, who Phillips tips for the flag.
"To beat them, you have to take the most of your opportunities. The teams who have gotten really close haven't been very accurate and they make you pay," Phillips said.
North have maintained their unbeaten run this season despite losing star defender Emma Kearney with a long-term hamstring injury. Her potential return during the finals would be a huge boost for the Kangaroos.
"That's when you know teams are really strong, really solid when you have a star player like Em go out, a leader, and then others step up and fill a void," Phillips said.
Phillips has obvious allegiances in this finals series - after her exploits at Adelaide she finished her outstanding AFLW career at Port Adelaide.
The Power are making their AFLW finals debut on Sunday, hosting Richmond in an elimination final.
Alberton has become a cauldron for the Power women, with more than 4000 boisterous fans playing a clear role in their last-quarter comeback win on Sunday against GWS.
Had they lost that game, Port would have had an away elimination final against Fremantle.
Phillips' Dad Greg is a Port Adelaide legend in the SANFL and she has fond memories of when Alberton was a formidable home-ground advantage for the local Magpies.
"There's a fortress at Alberton. They're playing with a lot of momentum," Phillips said.
"It is becoming a huge home-ground advantage. Having seen my Dad play hundreds of games at Alberton - back in the days of no standing room - it's looking almost like that again.
"You go around crushing cans on the floor."
Phillips also has massive respect for the Tigers and forecasts a hotly contested elimination final.