This story originally appeared on afl.com.au
PORT ADELAIDE skipper Travis Boak has urged the Power's midfielders to lift ahead of a huge clash with Geelong stars Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Power
They were comprehensively beaten in the midfield at Etihad Stadium, struggling without All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder.
While the Cats are without the injured Gary Ablett (hamstring), Dangerfield and Selwood spearhead a quality midfield featuring Mitch Duncan and Sam Menegola.
"It's a big battle and a great task for our midfielders who, we've spoken about, probably need to up their game a little bit after the last couple of weeks," Boak told reporters on Wednesday.
"Our effort probably hasn't been where we want it to be.
"Not having Paddy there has been a challenge, but for our guys, we see it as a great opportunity, to go up against two of the best players in the competition, along with Duncan and the rest of their midfield group."
Despite winning their first three games of the season – beating Fremantle, Sydney at the SCG and Brisbane – the Power have been talked down as a premiership chance.
While Boak admitted the Power had yet to hit their straps, he was confident there was plenty of room left for improvement.
"We know what our best footy's about and we don't think we've gone anywhere near that as yet," Boak said.
"Our expectations as a group are always very, very high and they won't change throughout the year.
"We know our best footy is still to come and we're still finding our feet in terms of the footy we're able to play."
This will be the 15th consecutive year the Power has hosted a game during Anzac Round.
The best player on the ground on Saturday night will be awarded the Peter Badcoe VC Medal.
"It's a great privilege to play this weekend and our club does extremely well to be in the 15th season of being able to host it," Boak said.
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