PORT Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper says the Power's full-ground defensive pressure can make up for their skill deficiencies.
The Power are fifth on the ladder ahead of Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat despite dropping their past two games to Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney.
Last weekend's 22-point loss to the Giants at Adelaide Oval was full of skill errors from the Power, while they were also smashed in clearances (52-30) and contested possessions (160-129) without star ruckman Paddy Ryder.
MATCH PREVIEW Bulldogs v Power
"We're not the most gifted team when it comes to skills in the AFL, but we definitely train our skills at training and put a big emphasis on it," Powell-Pepper told AFL.com.au.
"We just need to see what's in front of us and get that better connection in the team and where we're kicking it and with our forward 50 entries.
"We really pride ourselves on full-team defence and we're working on kicking a few more goals."
Scoring has dried up for the Power in their past two losses, averaging just 54 points, compared to 91 points during their five-game winning streak from rounds 12-16.
Powell-Pepper was below his best against the Giants, going at a kicking efficiency of 20 per cent and 11 disposals in total, after averaging 24.6 disposals per game the previous three weeks.
"You have your off games, and that's what I had on the weekend," Powell-Pepper said.
"I want to get a bit more of the ball and have an impact.
"I wasn't really happy with my game on the weekend, but I'll definitely bounce back next week."
The Power had no answers for Giants ruckman Dawson Simpson, who had a field day with 21 hit-outs to advantage.
The Power had just three as Charlie Dixon played the first half in the ruck before Dougal Howard and midfielders Ollie Wines and Brad Ebert shared duties in the second half.
Howard's hand injury, and Dixon's importance to the Power's forward structure, opens the door for fourth-year ruck Billy Frampton or rookie-listed big man Peter Ladhams to make their AFL debut against the Bulldogs.
Ryder is set to miss another week with a hip flexor strain but could return for the Power's crucial round 20 Showdown with Adelaide.
"We've built such a good relationship with Paddy over the course of the last year and bonded so well as a midfield group," Powell-Pepper said.
"When a big part of your midfield drops out like that, it's a bit challenging and changes things up a bit.
"If (Frampton or Ladhams) come in, it would make it a lot easier to bring it to ground and not let them (the opposition ruckman) have a free hit to it."
