The Gold Coast Suns say they are only focusing on this year’s clash with Port Adelaide in China – and not the potential fall-out that will come with wearing their traditional red-and-gold jumper.

Port Adelaide – concerned that Gold Coast’s guernsey would see them win the lionshare of support due to its similarities with the Chinese flag – asked the Suns to wear their white clash jumper in next weekend’s historic Shanghai clash.

The Suns refused, though, leaving the decision to the AFL, who ruled in their favour late on Monday evening.

Port Adelaide chairman and television personality David Koch threatened the Suns in February, saying they would never play them again in China if they did not decide on a swap.

“Gold Coast is playing silly buggers,” Koch told 5AA Radio in February.

“We’re the club leading the AFL into China, we have bought this game and paid good money for it, we’re the ones that are committed for the next 10 years to play a game in China each year.”

Suns CEO Mark Evans responded to the decision, and criticism from Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas, on Tuesday.

“We’ll evaluate after this year what occurs from there,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Keith Thomas and said he needs to pass on to all the people at his club that we’ve committed to make this a great event.

“There’s so many logistical challenges to make sure that event will go smoothly … there’s a lot more work to be done there.

“We’re committed to deliver the best event we can and work out with Port Adelaide and the AFL what the plans are beyond this year.”

Key to Koch’s claim was the fact Port Adelaide paid $500,000 to the Suns for the right to host the Shanghai match – an agreement that leaves Gold Coast with just 10 home matches in 2017.

But the jumpers were not covered in the agreement, and the AFL’s confirmation that the Suns would wear their red-and-gold strip left Port with a bitter taste.

“It’s not ideal but this is only a one-year agreement with the Gold Coast,” club CEO Keith Thomas said.

“We thought within the spirit of the commercial arrangement we had a strong case for the Gold Coast to wear their white clash guernsey but we accept the AFL’s decision and move on.”

The Power take on the Suns in China on May 14.