PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley isn't convinced his team is capable of sticking with the League's best - although he believes it has the potential to do so.
The Power have been steadily building for the best part of six weeks, winning four games, but while they've come close they're yet to actually beat a top-eight side.
They were right in the contest against Geelong until the Cats ran home 48-point victors in round five and narrowly lost to West Coast by eight points in round nine.
Hinkley said questions over whether Port was a genuine threat to those in the top eight were valid, but he was reserving his judgment until after Saturday's clash against the Bulldogs.
"We have some questions, there's no doubt about that … it's a significant game," Hinkley said.
"We look at it in the reality and the reality would suggest to us that we've still got to be proven at this level.
"There's some questions there, I'm really confident the boys have got the ability to answer those questions the right way but we've still got to do it.
"I'm excited to see what the end result is tomorrow – I'm not sure what the end result's going to be tomorrow but I just want to make sure that we come with the right effort."
Victory at Adelaide Oval would be an emphatic answer.
Not only do the Bulldogs boast a brilliant midfield containing Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter, Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore and a dangerous forward line – they're also the most defensively sound team in the AFL.
Hinkley said the key to stopping the Dogs lay with their team defence, which he rated as the best in the League.
"They do it together, there's no doubt about that, they're the most connected team I think, as far as defence goes in the competition," he said.
"Does that mean they'll stay that way, I'm not sure, that's Luke's challenge, but I'd say they're the most connected defensive team in the competition and when one part moves they all move.
"That's how you know you're in good shape."
At the halfway mark of the season, Hinkley also praised the work of forward Charlie Dixon, who is starting to hit top form following his off-season move from Gold Coast.
Major concerns existed over Dixon’s durability given his long history with ankle issues, but right from the start the power forward insisted he aimed to play every game this year.
Hinkley said that while the 25-year-old's output on match-days had been terrific, his growth in character was just as pleasing.
"This was a pretty significant step for him in his life; he's a northern Queensland boy, lived his whole life up there and he's going to come live in a city he knows nothing about, in a mad football state," Hinkley said.
"[That] opens himself up to a lot of issues that comes with good and bad form but so far he's been able to handle all those things."
