IF PORT Adelaide is to have any chance of knocking off the Sydney Swans next weekend at the SCG, its defensive game has to be airtight.

After a comfortable 70-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night, Power coach Ken Hinkley flew to the Gold Coast on Sunday to get a first-hand look at the Swans, confident his side is back on track.

That's not to say Port had strayed too far from Hinkley's path, but by his own admission the club's defensive efforts over the past few weeks hadn't been at the level required against the competition's best.

The Power leaked seven first-half goals last weekend against Melbourne and nine second-half goals against an undermanned Hawthorn the week before.

But they booted 19 goals against the Saints and kept their opponents to just nine for the match.

Forward Justin Westhoff told AFL.com.au the club's attacking potency was a sign its defensive game was sound.

"Most of our offence comes off our defensive play and I think we were pretty impressive in that area," he said.

"At the moment the forwards are gelling really well together and we kind of know where each other's going to lead and things like that.

"We've got a pretty dangerous forward line in there when everyone's up and about."

For Westhoff himself, Saturday night was further evidence of how far he's matured as a footballer over the last few years.

The 'Hoff' has been in terrific form this season but it didn't come easily early against the Saints; he had five disposals at half-time and only three marks.

After the main break though Westhoff was back to his best, finishing the game with 19 possessions, nine marks and a goal.

For a player who has struggled with his consistency, it was a sign of the times that he was able to overcome a slow start to still influence the game.

"The last couple of years I've matured a bit in how I play my game and just knowing when I'm still having an impact," he said.

"I know that if I keep working hard things will come eventually and I was able to get on the end of a few [on Saturday]."

Westhoff also had one of the best seats in the house for Chad Wingard's extraordinary mark in the third quarter.

He wasn't at the 20-year-old's feet, grinning ear to ear like Matthew Broadbent, but from the goal square the grab still looked pretty impressive.

He also helped complete the mark-goal-combo by ducking to let Wingard's casual snapped conversion bounce through.

"I just saw him go up for it and thought, 'There's no chance he's going to mark this'," Westhoff said.

"I thought he flew too early, but then he just got that extra lift.

"He's a freak, that's for sure."