PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams paid tribute to the courage of his group to overcome its 0-4 start but says the side has a “fair way to go” before reaching its best.

After humbling Essendon by 64 points in a lopsided Telstra Dome affair, the Power coach said he was pleased his side had clawed its way back into top eight contention.

“There is a mile of footy to go but we are back in among the group,” he said.

Against an inexperienced and injury depleted Essendon the Power were never threatened in an effort Williams said met pre-game expectations.

“We expected to win and we expected to play well and we did,” he said.

“All you can is deliver on those expectations.”

The Power coach said the fact the side played four solid quarters, accumulated 38 scoring shots and won its first game in Melbourne since beating Richmond in round 16 last year were positives for a side that lifted its record to 3-4.

He described the 33-possession effort of Steven Salopek as “outstanding” while talked up the freakish skills of forward Daniel Motlop.

Motlop kicked seven goals, including five in the first half, to breath life into an otherwise lifeless contest.  

“He does some of the things that bring people to the football,” he said.

“Everyone underestimates what he does for our club and he’s a brilliant team player.”

With the Power set to tackle Hawthorn in a fortnight Williams talked up the mouth-watering prospect of Motlop strutting his stuff at one end and Hawk superstar Lance Franklin doing likewise at the other.

Williams also hinted that veteran tough nut Michael Wilson would come into the side to play Hawthorn.

Wilson is yet to play a game this year because of an ongoing achilles heel injury but has been training well in recent weeks.

“He’s been on fire on the track and I think his eight weeks are up,” Williams said of Wilson.

Skipper Warren Tredrea, who suffered a corked thigh in the win over the Bombers, would be available to take on the unbeaten Hawks.