MIDFIELDER Steven Salopek says Port Adelaide will have to replicate its high-intensity second half against Geelong on Thursday night if the Power are to topple the Swans at home on Sunday.

The Swans have stifled Port Adelaide’s trademark run and carry in recent times, having claimed victory in four of the last six encounters between the two sides.

Salopek says his side will need to play “smart” and stick to the game plan against the resilient Swans.

“We’ve been preaching that we want to play fast, exciting football, and that’s what we need to do on Sunday,” he said.

“The only way to break Sydney is to run and carry the football, break the lines and to give it to a guy with speed and let them carry the ball.

“I think we started slowly in the first half on Thursday night, but as the game went on, our hardness around the football was outstanding.

“Our forward line pressure in the second half against Geelong was tremendous, and if we bring that same heat to the game on Sunday, it will obviously help.

“We know the Swans also bring massive heat and pressure to the game and to the ball carrier, so we just need to be smart with our decisions when we have the football.”

Port Adelaide paid the price for a lacklustre start against the reigning premiers in round one, and the Swans also fought back after a slow start against St Kilda.

The Swans, like the Power, fell just short in their surge for victory, going down by two points.

Star Swans Barry Hall (nine touches and one goal) and Adam Goodes (seven touches and one goal) were kept quiet in the dour struggle, which Salopek said was an ominous sign for this week’s game.

“St Kilda won the pre-season, and some of Sydney’s ‘guns’ were down on Saturday night and they still just about won the game. It just goes to show what a quality side Sydney are,” he said.

“They played very, very good football, and we know we’ll have to be strong around the ball and the contests.

“We need to put the ball into space and break it out wide. The ground is probably going to determine a fair bit of that because, obviously, the SCG is not the biggest ground.

“We just need to play our game, run hard, and play for each other.”