Prior to this season, the club had struggled to win at its marketed 'home away from home', losing four straight games at the venue between 2007 and 2010; but the ground was an obvious advantage when Richmond ventured to TIO Stadium for the first time in its 'home' game against Port Adelaide in round 10 this year.

The Power players wore gloves and sweatbands into the match, and handled the slippery ball better than the Richmond players, who decided against wearing gloves and over-possessed the ball.  

Port Adelaide didn't use heat chamber preparation in the lead up to the game against Richmond, but have trained regularly at the University of South Australia over the past month in preparation for the clash with the Demons, which will be played in more humid conditions than the match in May.

Melbourne has some experience playing in Darwin, having beaten Port Adelaide by a point in a thriller at TIO Stadium in round nine last season.

The Demons will also train at the venue twice ahead of the match with the Power in a bid to acclimatise to the weather, which is expected to reach 32 degrees and 46 per cent humidity on Saturday.

Port Adelaide has not won a game since beating the Tigers in round 10, and midfielder Travis Boak said the players were looking forward to returning to the Top End.

"We enjoy going up to Darwin and playing," Boak said on Tuesday.

"The crowd and support we get up there is fantastic. We've played up there a few times now and have got used to the conditions, which definitely helps.

"I don't know if Richmond had played up there [before round 10] … but Melbourne has been up there before, so it's going to be a tough match."

Boak has developed a reputation as a TIO Stadium specialist.

The classy onballer amassed 23 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal in a best-on-ground performance against Richmond in round 10, and picked up 25 touches and three goals in the narrow loss to the Demons last season.

"I think I just like the warm weather," Boak said of form in Darwin.

"I enjoy playing up there. It's a great ground and they are good conditions to play in."

Port Adelaide players were slapped with fines totalling $10,000, as a result of two separate melees in the third quarter against St Kilda at AAMI Stadium last weekend.

There were spotfires throughout the spiteful contest, but Boak denied the show of aggression from his team was planned.

"It just happened," he said.

"The fines come out of the players' pockets [not the club], so if we had the time over again and our players were getting in a bit of a niggle and we had to go over and help out we'd do it all again.

"It shows the mateship we have around the club, that [we're willing] to stick up for each other and we've got each other's back."

Defender Jackson Trengove remains in doubt for the game against Melbourne with a badly bruised arm.

The 20-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has revealed he's contemplating a return to Melbourne.

Boak, who shares the same manager as Trengove, faced a similar situation last year, but knocked back offers from Victorian-based clubs to remain at Alberton.

"I don't know if it'll be different for him [Trengove], but [I decided to stay because of] the mates around the club," Boak said.

"The club has been fantastic to me and my family. I love playing for this club and I think it's similar for Jackson."

Ruckman Dean Brogan (Achilles/hamstring) is unlikely to play against the Demons, while forward Simon Phillips will need to pass a fitness test on his injured shoulder.

Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill