PORT ADELAIDE has found long-wanted consistency. Five wins in a row would underline such, but it is the consistent way those victories have been built that has reaffirmed belief and ambition at Alberton.

"We have been really consistent in our behaviour," says Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley of the common theme in the winning streak that can be extended to six by beating North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday.

"It is all about what we do. That is the key. Our behaviour.

"We know who we are. We understand that - and we try to play to what we want to be every week. 

"And we have had to be brave to believe in our way so we could hang in games. Look at how many times we have been down three goals in these five games and worked our way to the lead by playing our way ... by our process.

"We have stuck to our game style."

At selection, Port Adelaide has been forced to make two changes - elevating Francis Evans from the tactical substitute chair to replace suspended specialist forward Junior Willie Rioli and Ollie Lord gets his third AFL game to cover the loss of key forward Charlie Dixon.

"Charlie was sore at training (on Thursday)," Hinkley said of Dixon who has battled with a grumbly knee for weeks. "He pulled up sore - and we do not want to take any risks. We also have a six-day turnaround (to the home clash with Melbourne). It is just too sharp.

"Evans played well in the SANFL to get his opportunity as a subustite. This is his moment; while we are disappointed to lose Junior at the tribunal, we know we get a player who is keen and desperate to make his mark in the AFL."

The key notes from Hinkley in the pre-game are:

RUCK: North Melbourne has the 300-plus game experience of Todd Goldstein. Port Adelaide has the eagerness of five-game Brynn Teakle and the league's top-ranked ruck player, Jeremy Finlayson - but is without Dixon.

"We have to work around that ruck challenge slightly differently," Hinkley said. "Brynn has been improving with each game. He is growing in his game."

OPPO WATCH: North Melbourne opened its new era with coach Alastair Clarkson with two wins and is now in a five-game losing streak. But no-one is underestimating the talent on the opposition team sheet.

"They have good experience to call on," Hinkley said. "The North Melbourne midfield is full of experience, even without Ben Cunnington this week. Simpkin. Davies-Uniake. Goldstein. Shiels. They have a lot of experience around the ball. They have a strong target in attack in Larkey. Their key backs are really capable players. They are improving, even if the results do not always suggest that. They were competitive at the weekend against St Kilda. They are developing."

VENUE: At Bellerive Oval, Port Adelaide has played just twice for AFL premiership points - winning against North Melbourne by 69 points almost a year ago and losing by 10 points in 2013.

"We understand how the ground is unique - but the key is the weather and we will be blessed with decent weather this time," Hinkley said. "There are risks at every ground. But the conditions can be the bigger challenge in Tasmania. We have been lucky to have good conditions."

PERCENTAGE: Port Adelaide is ranked equal second with Melbourne, St Kilda and Brisbane - but falls to fifth by an inferior percentage of 103 compared with the 138.3, 137.1 and 122 of the other three clubs.

This game is labelled as an opportunity to close the gap.

"I don't even look at that column (of the premiership table)," Hinkley said. "There is humility in the way we approach our games. We don't enter any game in this competition with any disrespect for any team, whether it be the team at the top in Collingwood or the teams at the bottom of the ladder. As a good footy club should, we know if we do not bring our best we will not get the result we want."

JHF: Jason Horne-Francis faces his former North Melbourne team-mates for the first time - a moment that has come with a long and somewhat intense build-up externally. Internally, the focus is more about knowing North Melbourne are dealing with Horne-Francis' talent rather than his decision to leave them.

"We expect Jason to approach it as a normal game, albeit it is slightly different by being against his old club," Hinkley said. "He has had enough time now at Port Adelaide to be imbedded strongly in our program. There will be extra attention, yes. That always will be the case. 

"The mature approach for us is to treat this like every other game - and have Jason know we don't expect any more or any less than what he has been producing. And he will be strongly supported by his team-mates. We expect North Melbourne will treat Jason with respect - and some urgency to get after him when they get a chance, as they would with any other good player on an opposition team."

Port Adelaide is playing North Melbourne for the 39th time in AFL company since 1997.   After losing the first nine to 2002, Port Adelaide has brought back the win-loss account to 16-22 and has won eight of the past nine encounters.

The match begins at 1.40pm.