The Eagles have lost their opening three games at home this season to Fremantle, Hawthorn and Carlton, but the Power coach said they were better than their place on the ladder suggested.
"They could have quite easily have won the game (against Carlton) with the number of shots they had, so we're certainly not confused," Hinkley said.
"We know the sides that they've played against, we know that they've been the high quality sides.
"They're not that far away, they've had some injuries, but I'm sure they'll be coming here to get their season on track.
"We're going to be a side that respects the competition and we've got absolute respect for West Coast who are a potential top four side."
Eagle-turned-Power defender Lewis Stevenson won't line up against his old side on Saturday, dropped for forward Paul Stewart who has recovered from a knock to the knee.
Stevenson had been in decent touch on the Power's half back line this season, averaging 18 disposals a game.
But with the team firing on all cylinders and few injuries to speak of, Hinkley said the 23-year-old was simply "unlucky".
"We're in good form, we've got a healthy list – I think we’ve got one, maybe two injuries from our whole squad of 44," he said.
"He's incredibly unlucky but someone has to be.
"Paul Stewart was always going to come back into the side because he deserves to come back into the side, so just purely on numbers, we perhaps had one too many defenders in the side."
West Coast has won the last three clashes between these sides but overall the Power have an exceptional home against the Eagles, having won nine game and lost just three.
Hinkley said expectation to win wasn't something to be scared of and while his players have shied away from the 'favourites' tag, the coach predicted his side's execution would account for any expectations.
"I think it's something we like to talk about, if we're expected to do certain things at certain times and we shouldn't shy away from that," he said.
"We understand that people are going to have an opinion, we've got ours and we know ... the important part now is how we go about it.
"Expectation will take care of itself from there."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
