Ken Hinkley reckons it's over-rated. Kane Cornes says it's irrelevant.
The Port Adelaide coach and stalwart dismiss any theory of inside knowledge in Sunday's AFL elimination final against Richmond.
Hinkley has ex-Tigers Jay Schulz and Matt White on his playing roster.
And Richmond have some of Port's favourite sons.
Tiger coach Damien Hardwick was a member of Port's 2004 premiership side - an outfit coached by Mark Williams, now Richmond's development coach.
And Richmond's forward coach Brendon Lade also won a flag at Port, where he played 234 games and won a club champion award.
Then there's Tiger defender Troy Chaplin, who infamously walked out of Port at the end of 2012 by sending an email to his Port teammates criticising the club's culture.
And also Richmond utility Matt Thomas. Though doubtful to break into the Tiger side on Sunday, he crossed from Port at the end of last season.
Hinkley, in typically blunt fashion, says the links won't offer either club an advantage in the knockout final at Adelaide Oval.
"Nup. I don't think it does," Hinkley said.
"I think it's over-rated.
"They have got plenty of knowledge. But the competition says you have got knowledge on every team you play against.
"It doesn't count for much. On game day, it will come down to the 22 (players) that take on their 22 and the best side will come out on top."
His veteran tagger Cornes agreed.
"It just adds to the build up ... but when it comes down to it, it's going to mean nothing in terms of the result of the game," Cornes said.
PORT'S LINK AT RICHMOND
- Damien Hardwick. Played in Port's 2004 premiership side, one of 54 games for the club. Coach of the Tigers since 2010.
- Mark Williams. Coached Port's 2004 flag, one of 12 seasons at the helm at Alberton. Now Richmond's development coach.
- Brendon Lade. Also played in Port's 2004 premiership. A club champion at the Power, where he played 234 games from 1997-2009. Now Richmond's forwards coach.
- Troy Chaplin. Played 140 games for Port between 2004-2012. Now a key Richmond defender.
- Matt Thomas. An 87-gamer for Port between 2001-2013 before joining the Tigers at the end of last season. Has played 13 games this year but an unlikely starter in Sunday's final.
RICHMOND'S LINK AT PORT
- Jay Schulz. Played 71 games for the Tigers between 2003-09. Will be Port's leading goalkicker for the fourth season.
- Matt White. Played 105 games for Richmond from 2006-2013. Crossed to Port as a free agent seeking greater playing time and has been a stunning success for the Power.
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