AFTER a month of narrow losses, Port Adelaide forward Justin Westhoff says the Power just need one breakout win to turn the season around and avoid slipping down the same path as it did in 2011.
The Power have lost four consecutive games since beating St Kilda in round one, but have looked capable of winning in nearly every encounter.
"I think we're still playing good footy even though we're losing. We're not losing by much and we just think we need that we need to break open one game and things can run on from there," Westhoff said.
"The morale of the group's still pretty good - we just need that one game, that one game and that's all it comes down to."
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Westhoff said it hurt more to lose in 2012 than it did last year, despite the club competing harder in games for longer.
The Power have been either leading or trailing by less than a goal at three-quarter time in three of its four losses and their average losing margin of 23 points is far better than last season's 53 points.
Westhoff said the closeness of the games was precisely the reason why it pained the side to lose so much.
"Last year we probably (had our) tails between legs and probably losing by six or seven goals in last quarters," he said.
"We're only losing by not very much, but that hurts more so (it's a) double edged sword, I think.
"There's not too many words that can describe the way we're feeling, we just need to pick ourselves up and get on with the season."
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Westhoff flagged the Power's round six game against Richmond as a vital one, with the Tigers also struggling to close out matches.
They have posted consecutive 10-point losses to Geelong and West Coast and lost to Collingwood by only 21 points in round two.
"They're definitely in the same boat as us. They want to get wins on the board, they're an up and coming team and it's a big game for the club," Westhoff said.
"Coming off four losses, every game's a big game … hopefully we can just win this week."
Westhoff said key forward Jay Schulz was in doubt after being accidentally poked in the eye in the second quarter against the Crows.
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Schulz was subbed out of the game at half-time on Sunday and will see an eye specialist on Monday to determine the extent of his injury.
Schulz's injury is a further blow to the Power's forward line after Robbie Gray went down in horrific fashion against Collingwood, but Westhoff flagged 200cm Daniel Stewart to return to the side after narrowly missing selection for the Showdown.
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL.com.au.
