WHAT further motivation does PortAdelaide need than being labelled mentally soft by its coach?

Perhaps the club’s proud leader becomingthe first player to reach 200 games?

In isolation, either should beinspiration enough, but combined the Power have too many reasons not to win.

Port Adelaide has showed glimpses of theirearly-season form in recent weeks and, back home against Essendon, will stop atnothing to keep the Bombers grounded.

Port Adelaide’srecent form includes losses to Carlton by 39,Hawthorn by 34, Geelong by 56, the Swans by 31after a win over Richmondby 40.

Recentresults against Essendon:

Round 9, 2006: Port Adelaide 20.9 (129) d Essendon 9.15 (69), TelstraDome.
Round 9, 2005: Port Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Essendon 9.12 (66),AAMI Stadium.
Round 18, 2004: Essendon 18.11 (119) dPort Adelaide11.13 (79), Telstra Dome.
Round 1, 2004: Port Adelaide 23.20 (158) d Essendon 8.14 (62),AAMI Stadium.
Semi final, 2003: Port Adelaide 12.11(83) d Essendon 6.8 (44), AAMI Stadium.

Strengths:

In two of the club’s past four losses,Port Adelaide had more shots on goal than its opponent and started in electricfashion.

The team is arguably stronger than thePower outfit that excelled with a blinding start to the season, but the playersneed to rediscover the enthusiasm and confidence that put the club in finals’contention.

The big guns like Warren Tredrea,Brendon Lade, Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne are all still there and need tolead by example on Sunday.

Potentialweakness:

In recent weeks the Power have struggledto contain the opposition once momentum has shifted their way.

Mark Williams shares most supporters’distaste for tempo footy, but like it or not, Port Adelaide has to come up witha way to stop teams kicking goals quickly.

The Power conceded 17 goals in twoquarters against Carltonand will struggle if Essendon are allowed to do the same.

They’resweating on:

The focus at Alberton this week has beenon restoring confidence in the young Port Adelaide squad.

Despite four straight losses the Powerwill have to back themselves against the high-flying Bombers.

It was only a month ago they sat top of theAFL ladder, and in such a tight competition, the Power’s fortunes could changeagain very quickly.

But in order to regain that winningfeeling they must take some risks and play the fast, direct, exciting brand offooty that saw the club win six out of its first seven matches.

Dangermen:

Danyle Pearce: After overcoming injuriesthat hampered his early-season form, the onballer is beginning to recapture thebrilliance that saw him crowned the 2006 NAB Rising Star.

Pearce racked up 28 possessions againstthe Blues and could’ve easily had two goals to his name.

The speedy 21-year-old provides a sparkacross half-forward and picked up the three Brownlow votes when Port Adelaidebelted the Bombers in round nine last season.

Brett Ebert: The Power’s leadinggoalkicker was well held last week and will need to have a bigger influence ifPort Adelaide is to prevail on Sunday.

After a four-goal performance againstthe Blues, young forward Justin Westhoff has ensured he won’t go unnoticed byBomber defenders Dustin Fletcher and Mal Michael.

Ebert will have to stand up if tallforwards Tredrea and Westy are blanketed.

Toby Thurstans/Darryl Wakelin: Asimportant as each other in stopping the Essendon tag-team of Matthew Lloyd andScott Lucas.

The two Bombers have kicked a combined 63goals this season, forming the most potent tall attack in the competition.

Defenders Michael Pettigrew andThurstans are still learning their trade and will need the help of experiencedheads Wakelin and Michael Wilson if the Power are to prevail.

It’snot generally known:

Ruckman Brendon Lade had 25 hit-outslast week, second only to West Coast’s Dean Cox, who had a league-high 28.