PORT ADELAIDE assistant coach Matthew Primus concedes the coaching staff didn't expect last week's dismal performance against Carlton, but the side knows what's coming from Collingwood this week.
Last weekend, the depleted Pies responded to a week of off-field drama by upstaging finals contender St Kilda and Primus said his team would need to match Collingwood's accountability to claim victory on Friday night.
"Collingwood bounced back last week after being disappointing for the month beforehand," Primus said on Wednesday.
"They have finals aspirations and we know what kind of mentality they’re going to come at us with. That’s the great thing; we know what’s coming and it’s just a matter of whether we can match it or not.
"Collingwood prides itself on the contested football and that’s what we’re looking to challenge ourselves on. If we can do that a lot better and match them, we think our skill level and talent should be able to get us the win."
Port Adelaide's first half against Carlton, in which they managed just two goals, has been labelled 'pathetic' and 'disastrous' and Primus said the 66-point loss was generated by a lack of effort from his players.
"We want to start with our effort this week. It’s got to be a lot greater than what it was last week and probably closer to what it as like against St Kilda the week before, which was a great effort," he said.
"Effort is what every individual controls, the leaders control and the coaches during the week control. That’s the thing we’ve really focused on and we’re hoping a bit of Michael Wilson rubs off on everyone Friday night.
"We hope the guys have actually looked at last week's game and we're pretty embarrassed by it and want to turn it around in front of our home crowd."
Wilson, who will do a lap of honour before the match, has dismissed speculation he’s been offered a place on Port Adelaide's coaching panel for 2009.
The retiring Power champion said he would prefer to take up an alternative off-field role with the club.
"My mother-in-law told me that (football commentator) Andrew Jarman knew I’d been signed up as a coach," Wilson said with a laugh.
"I have no aspirations to be a coach whatsoever. I’m focused on finishing my degree, becoming a physio and working with the medical staff here.
"I don’t really like what Matty (Primus) here has to go through. I’ve seen first-hand what Adam Kingsley, Choco (Mark Williams), Matty and Jason Cripps have to do and it's part of the game I’m not big on.
"There are other areas I can contribute to the club."