Ken Hinkley spoke to the media at the side's Captain's Run ahead of Round 14. Image: AFL Photos.

PORT ADELAIDE starts a critical three-game home stand at Adelaide Oval on Sunday with a singular focus on dealing with Melbourne - and only Melbourne.

"All we need to focus on is (Sunday's game) and our performance," Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley said at Adelaide Oval on Saturday morning. "We did that really well against GWS last week by narrowing our focus.

"Best practice in this competition is to keep your focus narrowed and never look too far ahead ... all we can do is look at (Sunday) and make sure we turn up and give our best account of ourselves to get the best chance to win four points.

Captain's Run - 14 June

Port Adelaide hit the track ahead of Round 14 against the Demons. Images: Matt Sampson.
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"Then we reset on Monday.

"You can't look far ahead - and you can't take anything for granted. This game will smack you in the face if you do otherwise.

"We have to turn up (on Sunday) at Adelaide Oval with our fans and make sure we win."

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TIME FOR TWO: Such is the reputation of Melbourne captain and All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn that Port Adelaide has opted for a double team with a double role - Dante Visentini and the recalled Jordon Sweet as ruck and forwards.

"We are coming up against the best ruck in the competition for the past 10 years," Hinkley said of Gawn. "He has been an outstanding ruck. We accept it is a big challenge for our rucks.

"(Also) our forwards have not been able to do enough or as much as they need to do, so when you come up against the quality of Max Gawn we acknowledge that and put another ruck in and see if we get another different-looking target in the forward line at times."

Ruckman Jordon Sweet has been recalled to the senior side, playing alongside Dante Visentini. Image: AFL Photos.

NO. 1: Who gets first crack at Gawn - the more-experienced Sweet while Visentini starts as a forward, as he did against Fremantle in Perth late last season as a late call-up for Charlie Dixon?

"Both boys can do really well," Hinkley said. "Both have good AFL experience. Dante is on a good run now. Sweet's past 12 months have been really strong. They give us confidence that both boys (can take lead ruck duties).

"We won't concede to Max. But to limit him being influential in the outcome ...

"It will be 'how is it working for us?' and there is the luxury they can both have an impact as forwards. Sweet has kicked a couple of goals in his games in the SANFL. They can both hit the scoreboard. They are there to provide a good contest against (Melbourne key defenders) Steven May and Jake Lever."

Port Adelaide will look to minimise Max Gawn's influence around the ground. Image: AFL Photos.

NEW FACE: Mani Liddy enters the Port Adelaide senior line-up less than three weeks since the 23-year-old midfielder was called from SANFL club Central District in the mid-season draft.

"It is a great story and we have been very good at picking and playing (mid-season draftees) pretty quickly," Hinkley said. "Anyone who has been playing at his level in the SANFL - and available on an AFL list - would have been called to the AFL before this week. His form with our SANFL team was outstanding. He is too hard to ignore. He deserves his chance.

"I love his story of persistence. He certainly is a hard worker. We think he will play a significant role for us.

"(For Mani) the fundamentals are pretty simple - turn up, work hard, put your head over the ball when you need to and have composure when the ball is in your hands. He does those things pretty well. He will not be perfect at everything we do. But he will bring great energy and provide an effort we know will give him - and us - the chance to be successful."

TURNING POINT: Hinkley and senior assistant Josh Carr have highlighted a change in attitude from the playing group during the recent mid-season break. The test comes now in following up the 16-point win against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra with a solid performance.

"Consistency in this competition is a fact," Hinkley said. "We reset at the break. We identified a couple of things we needed to get right.

"We have an identity; we know how we get our best results. Performing to that identity each week is our challenge."

Ken Hinkley says his side was able to reset at the break, propelling them to an important win in Canberra. Image: AFL Photos.


THE BUG: Hinkley returned to the training track on Saturday morning after being a victim of a flu bug that claimed others in the football department and AFL squad at Alberton this week.

"We learned some good stuff out of (the) COVID (pandemic) - any time there is illness around, you isolate to protect other people," said Hinkley. "It was best to stay away and keep as many people as possible healthy."

This included players such as key defender Aliir Aliir, who trained on Saturday; and former captain Travis Boak, who has been removed from the line-up by illness and the need to manage his program this season.

"We have made it to this stage pretty well and at this stage everyone who has been picked will play tomorrow," Hinkley said. "Boak is sick and will not play because we are looking after him and mainly because he has been crook. We have to manage him carefully."

The match presents Port Adelaide and Melbourne each on five wins from 12 and 13 games respectively. It begins at 2.50pm on Sunday, and tickets are still available.