PORT ADELAIDE captain Travis Boak says coach Ken Hinkley’s assessment to describe the team’s performance against West Coast as “soft” has stung the players.

The Power was smashed in the contest in the 42-point loss to the Eagles.

Hinkley said it was not fair to describe his team as soft typically but it was a fair way to describe Saturday’s performance.

“It certainly does sting but we’re honest and there’s no doubt that that performance was nowhere near what we expect,” Boak said.

“If you lose the contested ball by that much it’s a pretty poor performance.

“We’ll review that and look at that area and where we let ourselves down, whether it was stoppages or other parts of the game.”

The Power will have no better platform to respond than Saturday afternoon’s Showdown against cross-town rival Adelaide.

The Crows have won the last five meetings by an average of 35 points – a record Boak wants to change.

“We’re really hungry to turn it around, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“The whole club, our supporters, it’s been long enough that we haven’t won one so we’re pretty hungry to get out there.”

“I reckon you look at most of them but we have probably lost in the contest in most of those games and you lose in the contest and you’re probably going to lose most games.

“Certainly when it’s a hotly contested, fierce game of footy you’ve got to be up for the fight and we haven’t been able to match Adelaide in the contest in those.”

Port Adelaide’s chances of improving in the contest will be enhanced with the potential return of Sam Powell-Pepper and Tom Rockliff, after two games each in the SANFL.

“The last couple of weeks they have played some good footy so they’ll both put their hand up for selection and both are very good contested ball players,” Boak said.

"They'll have a good week on the track and there's a big chance they'll put their hand up for selection.”

Boak was speaking at a press conference with Adelaide captain Taylor Walker regarding the partnership formed between the clubs and the charity organisation Variety.

The teams will play for the Variety Showdown Shield and the award for best on ground will be called the Variety Showdown Medal.

Both captains were quick to point out the intensity of the rivalry.

“There’s no doubt the fire is still there,” Boak said.

“The rivalry is always going to be there and I think the way they’ve been played shows that there’s still a lot of fire there.”

Walker said he loved playing against the Power.

“I tip that Boaky and the boys don’t like Crows and vice versa, they are great games,” he said.

“You are always in the game until the last quarter no matter what the score is.”

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