AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is trying his best to stay out of the ugly guernsey stoush between Port Adelaide and Gold Coast.
But the league boss admits he might need to get between the squabbling sides at some point.
The clubs are at loggerheads over the Suns' intention to wear their home jumper - that matches the red and yellow of the Chinese flag - when they meet in Shanghai in round eight.
The Power paid $500,000 for the rights to Gold Coast's home game so they could host the historic clash for premiership points in China. The club hopes it will be the start of a lucrative long-term push into the market.
But that agreement doesn't cover who wears what jumper and Power president David Koch is hopping mad at the Suns, accusing them on Adelaide radio fiveAA of playing silly buggers.
Koch has threatened to exclude Gold Coast from future matches in China, calling on the AFL to make a ruling, but Suns chairman Tony Cochrane isn't backing down.
The situation is a long way removed from October's launch in Melbourne, where McLachlan, Koch and Cochrane were all smiles.
"My prevailing view is that it's a club issue," McLachlan said on Thursday.
"If we need to get involved we will, but I hope that the clubs will be able to work that out.
"Obviously, if I need to, I'll become involved."
Gold Coast are listed as the home side on the AFL's official fixture.
New Suns chief executive Mark Evans, leaving his post as AFL football operations boss this week to take up the role, has already backed Cochrane's stance.
McLachlan on Thursday announced AFL game development chief Simon Lethlean as Evans' successor.
He backed Evans to get Gold Coast headed in the right direction after underwhelming performances on and off the field.
"I think he's got great presence, he's a good communicator and he's got really good leadership," McLachlan said.
"He needs to go and lead that club because the football team looks good, the structures look good and there's a good stadium and new training base.
"We just have to make the thing gel and come together and that's his focus.
"I reckon all of the ingredients are there and he just needs to get the cake to rise."
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