PORT Adelaide will head to Darwin a day earlier than usual in an attempt to put an end to a four-game losing streak at TIO Stadium against Richmond on Saturday night.
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In 2009, the Power committed to playing two away matches in Darwin each season for three years, as part of a deal between the AFL and Northern Territory government.
The deal was viewed as a way for the club to increase its presence in NT, where the club has strong support, and generate additional revenue without sacrificing any of its home games at AAMI Stadium.
Port Adelaide marketed Darwin as being its 'home away from home', but TIO Stadium hasn't brought any form of home ground advantage for the club as yet.
The Power haven't won at the venue since round 19, 2006, and have lost their past four games there by an average margin of 46 points.
Three of those defeats came at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, while the club's fourth loss was against Melbourne by a solitary point, in round nine last season.
Port Adelaide is yet to play Richmond at TIO Stadium in a game for premiership points, but lost to the Tigers in a NAB Challenge game in Alice Springs in February.
Ruckman Dean Brogan said the club's leadership group had requested for the team to arrive in Darwin on Thursday, rather than Friday, this week to help the players acclimatise to the humid conditions.
"Our record up there [in Darwin] over the last couple of years hasn't been great," Brogan said on Wednesday.
"After last year, as a leadership group, we said we needed to get up there a day earlier.
"Getting up there earlier means you can have a good 45-minute training session and spend some time together on the Friday, whereas, in the past, it's been a bit rushed.
"Darwin is a big part of the team's future and the club's future, and we're going to go up there a lot.
'We really need to make it another home round for us, so this week is a great opportunity for us to go up there, play really well and, hopefully, win."
Brogan was hopeful his team's experience in Darwin at the same time of year would be an advantage on Saturday night.
"We played two games up there last year. The earlier game was very humid, but later in the season, it's a little bit better," he said.
"We're more prepared than we were going up there early last year. If we've got any advantage at the moment, it would be that we know what it's going to be like.
"The ball is going to be like a piece of soap right from the word go."
The Power, who have played one more game than most other teams, have conceded the most points in the competition this season.
Richmond, who has also yet to have a bye, ranks third in the league in points scored and Brogan said his team's defensive skills would be put to the test this week.
"Richmond is playing some fantastic footy and it's a massive challenge for us to shut that [scoring] down," he said.
"Our defence hasn't been great...and we're well aware of that, but we'll come with that defensive mindset on Saturday and if we play for four quarters, we're a good chance to get a win."
Port Adelaide marked the trip to Darwin with the announcement of another sponsor, Great Southern Rail.
Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
