AFTER facing off seven times in the past 18 months there isn't much these two teams don't know about each other.

In round 21 last season, the Power pulled off one of the most thrilling wins of the season, upsetting Geelong by five points at Skilled Stadium, and it's likely to be resilience and luck, rather than tactical nous, that separates these teams again on Sunday.

The Port Adelaide players are embarrassed after another final quarter fadeout, but the Power are a proud bunch and will be aiming to extend their good away record with a backs to the wall win over Geelong.

Port Adelaide’s recent form: lost to Carlton by 12, beat Fremantle by 28, lost to Sydney Swans by 11, lost to Hawthorn by 15 and beat Essendon by 64.

Recent results against Geelong:

Round one, 2008, Geelong 15.15 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.12 (96), AAMI
Grand Final, 2007, Geelong 24.19 (163) d Port Adelaide 6.8 (44), MCG
Round 21, 2007, Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) d Geelong 15.11 (101), SS
Round nine, 2007, Geelong 16.20 (116) d Port Adelaide 8.12 (60), AAMI
Round 15, 2006, Geelong 9.14 (68) d Port Adelaide 8.10 (58), SS

Strengths:

The Power should have two very big ins when they tackle Geelong this week, with Shaun Burgoyne returning from suspension and Brett Ebert expected to be named after overcoming an ankle injury. Burgoyne is undoubtedly Port Adelaide’s best clearance player and has also chimed in with 17 goals this season.

Ebert has booted 20 goals this year, including six against the Swans in round nine, the same game in which he injured his ankle.

Geelong will be without general Matthew Scarlett in its back half this week and if the Power can get some fast, efficient delivery to in-form forwards Ebert and Warren Tredrea, they might just be able to trouble the Cats’ defence.

Potential weakness:

Just three weeks after regaining gutsy former vice-captain, Michael Wilson, Port Adelaide’s defence has been dealt another blow, losing key defender Toby Thurstans for a month.

Thurstans’ potential stand-in Paul Stewart is also likely to miss Sunday’s clash after suffering a stiff neck in the collision with Carlton’s Jordan Russell.

Alipate Carlile was brilliant on Brendan Fevola last week and should get the job on feisty Cat Cam Mooney, but the Power could be exposed by Geelong’s resting ruckman, Brad Ottens, if they don’t replace Thurstans with Damon White or another strong tall.

They’re sweating on:

Port Adelaide fans will be sitting nervously if their side happens to be ahead at three-quarter time on Sunday. Last week, for the second time this year, the Power surrendered a handy six-goal-plus lead to lose at home, this time to Carlton.

The club has questioned everything from fitness and match-ups to the midfield mix in a bid to source the reason behind the embarrassing fade-out. A sustained four-quarter effort seems the appropriate response to last week’s capitulation and Williams will be demanding that, at the very least, from his playing group at Skilled Stadium.

Dangermen:

Kane Cornes: Cornes was superb on Nick Stevens last week until being switched onto the devastating Chris Judd in the final term. The All-Australian is likely to continue his battle with Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel on Sunday while Dom Cassisi tackles, not corrals, the dangerous Gary Ablett Jr. The Power have demanded a response from its leaders after last week’s disappointing loss and Cornes will not let his teammates down.

Dean Brogan: Brogan has the ability to set the tone for a game with his work in the middle, and he did for the first three quarters last week. The aggressive big man and his ruck partner Brendon Lade will need to muster a supreme effort this week against the might of Geelong big men Mark Blake and Brad Ottens.

Shaun Burgoyne: Burgoyne was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team suffered narrow losses in two of the three weeks he missed through a dubious suspension. The vice-captain will return to action just in time for his standard and always tough encounter with Cat Cameron Ling. Burgoyne will be fresh after his three-week spell and his explosiveness will be vital if the Power are to claim another Skilled Stadium victory.

It’s not generally known …

Port Adelaide was one of only two teams to defeat Geelong at Skilled Stadium in 2007.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.