SUPER-FIT Port Adelaide has underlined its intention to show no mercy to a struggling Melbourne with a vocal reminder of the Power's horrid record against the Demons at the MCG.
Defender Troy Chaplin said the meeting between second-placed Port and the 16th-ranked Dees was "one of the most important games so far".
A record of no wins in six matches over a decade does not sit well with the Power.
"We haven't beaten Melbourne at the MCG so it's a huge challenge for us, and even though they are the bottom side it's still a tough game and a dangerous game for us. We'll be taking it as if they're in the top four," Chaplin said.
"It's an important game and we really need to get over there and get a win and finally get on the board over there against Melbourne.
"We can't underestimate them, they'll probably get a couple back too, so it's probably one of the most important games we've had so far."
Port have never even run the Demons close in matches at the home of football, being thrashed by as many as 53 points in the club's 2004 premiership year.
The Power's coach Mark Williams is unlikely to have much trouble "keeping a lid" on proceedings, something Chaplin said had been a focus of the past five weeks.
"I think we've been keeping pretty low key. Choco's been keeping on top of it and hasn't let us get ahead of ourselves, but you've got to feel a little confident and take that week in, week out," he said.
"We don't want to be coming out to training and muck around, we want training to be sharp, be on time, we want to look after our injuries, do our rehab right, we don't want to take shortcuts and cut corners, and that's what he's been hot on all pre-season.
"We're a more committed unit and it's starting to show."
Though keen not to look too far into the future, Chaplin allowed himself a target for the club's next five weeks - a ledger of eight wins, two losses after round 10 would go a long way to sewing up a position in the top eight and maybe even the first four.
"We started pretty well but we have to sit down and look at the next four weeks, it's an important block of games and can really set up our season," he said.
"Hopefully we can be eight and two in the first 10 rounds, we just need to make sure we stay committed and consistent.
"We always talk about finals, we're a team that wants to play finals, but that's as far as we've got."
Port can expect the returns of Danyle Pearce, Daniel Motlop and Dean Brogan from injury this week.
