Hinkley’s men had just eight scoring shots to the Dockers' 17 in the opening half at Patersons Satdium, with the home side's inaccuracy the only thing keeping Port in the game.
They managed to turn their form around after half-time and storm into the preliminary final.
But after his side's final training run ahead of Saturday night’s game at the MCG, Hinkley said a similarly sluggish start against the Hawks would have dire consequences.
"We saw it last week, we were slow at the start and we weren't giving ourselves every chance to play the football we want to," Hinkley said.
"If we do that, we know that we'll get in trouble and we won't escape this time.
A focused Jared Polec signs autographs for the Port Adelaide fans. Picture: Getty Images
"I watched the start of [the semi final] again last night, just the first quarter, just to reinforce our pressure was there. We've just got to be able to handle the pressure they put on us but we've got to make sure we're returning a bit of that pressure back onto them."
Saturday night will be the biggest game the vast majority of Port's list have ever been involved in.
Most received their first taste of finals football last season, but only three players (Kane Cornes, Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff) have ever played in a preliminary final.
In stark contrast, Hawthorn is vying for its third-straight Grand Final appearance.
Hinkley acknowledged the Hawks had a significant experience advantage over his young team, but was confident the situation wouldn't overawe the Power.
"The proof will be in the pudding, it'll be what can deliver under that fierce pressure that Hawthorn's going to put on us, but we think we're ready for it," he said.
The Power take to the track at Alberton Oval one last time before the prelim final. Picture: Getty Images
"We've experienced it a lot this year…we've been involved in big football matches.
"Hawthorn are going for their third Grand Final in a row, we're going for our first prelim final, so there's some experience in their favour but there's some excitement in ours."
Hinkley said there was no lingering doubt about the fitness of defender Tom Jonas for Saturday's game.
Jonas suffered a corked hip and was substituted during Port's semi-final win against Fremantle.
But Hinkley has declared the versatile backman a certain starter.
"I was pretty comfortable all week that Tommy was going to be okay, it was a corkie and they do come up and we would be surprised if they didn't," Hinkley said.
"He's fine ... there isn't anything wrong with him and there can't be. If you're going to play a prelim final you have to be fit.
"It's important because Tommy is a leader of our group too, he's a significant player for us. But it's not so much just the one position he plays, it's what he brings to the rest of the team."
Port will fly into Melbourne on Friday afternoon and be followed by a huge contingent of fans.
The club hopes at least 20,000 fans will make the journey from Adelaide to Melbourne.
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
