The Power dominated the first three quarters at Subiaco and led by as much 68 points before West Coast stormed back to reduce the margin to four goals.
The players were audibly enthusiastic before training on Wednesday after engaging in a game of (football) hackysack in the rooms and Thurstans said the win was invaluable for the morale of the young group.
"It's a funny situation you find yourself in when you're 0-4. You do a lot of groundwork on where things went wrong, but the good thing about football is you get to play next week and redeem yourself,” he said.
"It was good to get a win on the board but it did add a sour note to it the way we finished off. We were disappointed and we reviewed the situation of where they scored their goals from and we're always looking to improve.
“We're a long way away from our best football but to get a win -- the morale of the group is right up.
The Power takes on St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night and are likely to go in unchanged.
Adam Thomson (shoulder) and Troy Chaplin (concussion) appeared untroubled by their respective injuries during Port Adelaide’s main training session and are expected to play.
David Rodan, who has been in blistering form, spent much of the session on the bike as did vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne.
St Kilda has already ruled out ruckman Steven King and defender Sam Gilbert, while big man Michael Gardiner looks set to resume.
The Saints have the advantage of an extra two days break this week, having played last Friday night. The Power played in WA late Sunday and only returned to Adelaide on Monday night.
But Thurstans was confident the Power would “get themselves up” for the must-win clash.
"I don't really think about those sorts of things. A trip away to Perth is a long weekend but we got back and we've got a six day break,” he said.
“There are probably a lot of other teams and games where you only have six days and the club are pretty professional in the way we do our rehab, so we'll be right.”
On Saturday Thurstans and company will be pitted against the talented Saints forward line of Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne.
The versatile defender said the task of minding Riewoldt was likely to be shared between a handful of players.
"Michael Pettigrew’s got the speed and athleticism to go with Nick Riewoldt,” he said.
“He's probably the kind of player you don't just play one player on throughout the game, you probably throw one or two different people at him to break up his rhythm.
“It could be any one of four or five players who get him.”
