PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is confident his side will avoid any complacency that might creep into its preparation given the significant return of star duo Hamish Hartlett and Chad Wingard.
Hartlett injured his hamstring after the club's round one win over St Kilda and has missed the past two encounters, while Wingard was also struck down by a hamstring injury, missing last weekend's win over Essendon.
The Power took a step in the right direction against the Bombers, finding the effort and intensity that lacked in their 58-point loss to Adelaide in Round 2.
But on Friday, Hinkley was emphatic in declaring the inclusions of Hartlett and Wingard wouldn't automatically return the Power to their best against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
"We're not a footy club that can be complacent, it's just not an issue for us; we just can't go to that space, so we won't," Hinkley said.
"Clearly [Hartlett and Wingard's return is] good from a team point of view and it gives you some more confidence that you're bringing in some quality players.
"At their best they can make a significant difference but it doesn't guarantee anything.
"As we always say, those two won't be the be all and end all … it's just a matter of being a part of the team and doing their role."
Hinkley said he and the rest of the football department had been wary of overstating last weekend's performance against the Bombers.
Although the Power fought hard for their 61-point win, the coach was dissatisfied with the performance and the club's recent inconsistency.
Against the Giants, which he insists no longer deserves to be seen as a young, inexperienced side but a genuine force, Hinkley expects nothing less than four quarters of exceptional effort.
"We've been really on guard, we're really mindful of the fact that it was only one game last week and we've been a little bit inconsistent," he said.
"Those expansion clubs, they're still expansion clubs but they're not [made up of the youngest] players in the competition now, they're [on a] level playing field.
"They're [the Giants] the real deal.
"They're now not worried about playing an AFL game … having been at the Gold Coast in the early years, you'd tend to turn up going 'well, I hope I go OK today' - not quite sure - whereas now they go in very confident about what they can do."
Hinkley also said he hoped injured forward Jay Schulz would be able to return to the selection fold - at worst - soon after the club's round 14 bye.
Schulz had surgery on his back this week and although the next fortnight would be about rest and recovery, feedback from the surgeon suggested it wouldn't be too long before he could start running again.
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