FORGET "sexy" footy; Hamish Hartlett thinks Port Adelaide could benefit from focusing more on field position.

Not all the time, of course - the Power are at their most deadly in open space when they're gliding into attack - but after conceding 150 inside 50s over the past fortnight, Hartlett said the time had come to play it safe.

Although they won both games, the Power gave up 79 inside 50s to Hawthorn in round five and 71 to Adelaide last weekend.

The trend is unsustainable according to coach Ken Hinkley, and this week full-back Alipate Carlile confirmed the dam would break should Port continue to leak defensively.

As well as looking for safer options when in possession, Hartlett told AFL.com.au the side had to take better care of the football when in close.

Port is ranked 14th for converting first possession into clearance; almost a third of its first possession is stripped and cleared by the opposition.

"We realise we're a really efficient team in our half of the ground and that's still a huge part of our game, but we'd just prefer not to have our backs under the pump as consistently as they are at the moment," Hartlett said.

"That comes down to us in the midfield not getting the ball stripped as easily as it is at the moment, and just being a bit smarter as a group in terms of taking field position when we can.

"Instead of kicking the ball down the field and then trying to handball, handball, handball and get a nice, sexy goal, I think taking it over the line a couple of times and just working the ball up the field [is needed]."

The 24-year-old has been in stunning form so far this year, averaging career high numbers in disposals (almost 22 a game), tackles (almost five a game) and marks (almost six a game).

He said the bright side of Port's lopsided inside 50 differential in recent weeks had been the backline, which has conceded the seventh fewest points this year. That's preserved the Power's confidence as they prepare to take on West Coast on Sunday.

"When the opposition's getting the ball inside their forward 50 but they're not scoring, (we) don't feel the pressure as much," Hartlett said.

"Then you've always got that confidence in the back of your mind that if you get the ball in enough open space, then generally we're going to score.

"So we've still got that belief and confidence."