PORT ADELAIDE has let a top four opportunity slip through its fingers after falling to Collingwood in a tough battle at the at the MCG on Sunday night.

Despite wrestling the lead back from the Pies on the back of three goals to Hamish Hartlett at the beginning of the third quarter, the Power was unable to hold the lead against a relentless defensive performance from the Collingwood.

While it looked like the Power would have the legs to launch a final quarter surge, Collingwood's intensity and pressure around the ball proved the difference, with two late goals to Steele Sidebottom confirming a likely win for the home side.

Andrew Moore kicked a goal with under 10 seconds remaining to shave the final margin to six points. 

The performance had plenty of highlights, but they were few and far between as Collingwood's fast rebound and ability to pump the ball inside its attacking 50 in the first half helped heap pressure on the visitors.

And Port's quality of inside 50 was poor by comparison. 

All too often would a kick to a two-on-one contest result in the Magpies swinging the momentum back in its favour out of defence led by Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom.

While Hamish Hartlett would kick four goals in a standout performance, and Cam O'Shea would recapture the defensive form that characterised his 2013 campaign, the Power's team performance was well below its usual standard.

It conceded over 10 goals for the fifth consecutive game on a night where it found hitting its own set-shot targets in attack difficult.

The Power must now regroup ahead of an imposing Saturday night blockbuster against the second-ranked Sydney Swans at the Adelaide Oval.

SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE      1.0     5.7     8.8     10.10 (70)
COLLINGWOOD        2.3     6.6     9.7     11.10 (76)

PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU'S BEST
Hartlett, O'Shea, Wines, Boak, Polec, Westhoff, Hombsch

GOALS
Hartlett 4, Schulz, Wingard, R. Gray, Boak, Monfries, Moore

INJURIES
TBC

CROWD
32,804 at the MCG