BY Sunday evening, Port Adelaide will want to celebrate Travis Boak's 350-game milestone with victory as it has done for his 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th and 300th matches.

And senior coach Ken Hinkley will want to see Port Adelaide with a 2-0 win-loss record to steal a march on many rivals in the most-competitive race to the AFL's top-eight finals this century.

"Our challenge is to make sure we perform at our best this week," Hinkley said at Alberton on Friday as training continued for Sunday's headline clash with Richmond at the MCG.

"We just need to win. Every win will be critical by the end of the season."

The game will have the celebration of Travis Boak's exemplary commitment to draw the best from himself in 18 seasons of elite football. 

"It has been a great week already with (moments such as) the past players coming in on Wednesday. Clearly (in the pre-game) there will be more spoken about Travis ... but ultimately Trav will just want the game to be played and he will just want a victory for the club," Hinkley said.

"That is the most important thing."

Arriving at Alberton as the No.5 call in the 2006 AFL national draft, Boak reaches his 350th match having missed just 26 since his debut in round 12, 2007 against Essendon.

"It is incredible endurance," notes Hinkley. "Not only to keep going, but wanting to compete - and at such a high level. He also has wanted to improve every year. That is what sets him apart in some ways. He always tries to better himself. 

"At the end of this game, like with all milestones, they are for reflection later. Trav will be just happy to get out on the grass on Sunday afternoon."

Boak's inspiring journey to the 350-game milestone resonates beyond Alberton - even to the opposition bench on Sunday. Richmond assistant coach Ben Rutten this week made it known he uses Boak as a motivational role model to his young troops. 

"Trav is one of the great players of the game - and everyone recognises what he has done in football," Hinkley said.

THE OTHER MILESTONE

Hinkley reaches his 250-game milestone as Port Adelaide senior coach on Sunday, delighted to have the achievement fall in the shadow of Boak's 350th.

"My milestone disappears; it works out really well," Hinkley said. "I am grateful to the footy club for my time here. To be here for this long is an absolute honour. It is not something I take lightly."

But Hinkley does not understate the role Boak has played during his tenure as coach to take Port Adelaide out of the dark tunnel of 2012 to become a highly competitive team on the field for more than a decade.

"It is an endless list," says Hinkley of the contribution Boak has made to his coaching story. "He was the captain when I came here to the football club (at the end of 2012); he shouldered a lot of responsibility with change and then he has transitioned from being captain to support those who have followed him ... while always supporting me.

"What Travis did selflessly for us (in choosing to remain at Port Adelaide from 2012 to be part of the Hinkley era) to make sure this football club re-established itself has been watched by others ... and they (have been inspired) to do the same thing.

"I always will be grateful to Travis for what he has been able to do. He is one of the special people in your life who you remember forever."

SELECTION

ONE forced change - with the loss of Jed McEntee from the attack by the concussion protocols - puts Francis Evans back in the AFL line-up.

"Frank will get his opportunity to play a full game," Hinkley said. "He has had an outstanding pre-season. He has been as good as anyone throughout the whole summer."

ON THE EDGE

NOTABLE from the extended squad named on Thursday is the return of young forward Mitch Georgiades after his long stint on the injury list after major knee surgery last season.

"He is an emergency; he is close," Hinkley said of Georgiades. "He is in the conversation (at selection). 

"Jase Burgoyne (also is in that conversation). He has been unlucky not to be in the team. The players keeping him out - Boak on a wing; Miles Bergman on a wing ... so Jase deserves an opportunity, 100 per cent, if he gets that chance."

MATES TO RIVALS

NEW lead ruckman Ivan Soldo faces his former Richmond team-mates - and ruck partner Toby Nankervis - in just his second game at Port Adelaide.

"Everyone who plays against their old team for the first time definitely has something that little bit extra in there," Hinkley said. "I am sure there is anxiety, nerves and there will be want. He will handle it really well. He is a mature person and has lots of experience. He also has great respect for the Richmond Football Club and for what they did for him. 

"I am sure Ivan has great respect for Nankervis - and it is a real challenge for him coming up against one of the great rucks of the competition.

"I am sure once the battle is done on Sunday afternoon, he will reflect with some of his great mates from Richmond. But he knows where his home is now."

NEXT STEP

FROM the 50-point win against West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Sunday comes the challenge to find improvement seven days later.

"There is plenty (to work on)," Hinkley said. "There are things we are always working on. Everyone puts great importance on round one, but we still have plenty to do for rounds two, three four and five ...

"And there are plenty of challenges in the game we need to get right."

This includes goalkicking accuracy after Port Adelaide scored 24 behinds - the most by the club at AFL level - against West Coast.

"We took a lot of longer shots," Hinkley said of Port Adelaide's scoring. "We'd rather kick more goals ..."

NEW DEFENCE 

MORE than two new players - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea - in defence, Port Adelaide also has a new coach in this zone with Tyson Goldsack.

"If you ask Tyson," Hinkley said, "they expect to get better (with more time together). They don't have much experience together. And add Lachie Jones to that mix as well. There is a fair bit of new there. We do expect they will get better and work better together as we go through the season; although we're pleased with what they did first up."

OPPO WATCH

RICHMOND is 0-2 with losses to Gold Coast and Carlton under new coach Adem Yze.

"Their last six quarters of football have been as good as anyone," Hinkley said. "With a bit of luck (and less injuries) they could have beaten Carlton. Their second half against the Gold Coast was really strong.

"They are in a transition stage with a new coach. I expect Richmond at their absolute best. Go through the names; they are an outstanding team."