The Power leapfrogged Geelong into first place with its win over the Cats last weekend and flew to Canberra on Friday morning to face a vastly different unit in Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

 

The Giants have lost their past three games and sit 14th.

 

Port might sit high on the ladder for now, but it needs only look to last season to remind itself how quickly the year can turn.

 

After round six in 2013 the club also had lost just one game and sat third, but four consecutive defeats from rounds seven to 10 saw it plummet to 11th on the ladder.

 

Hinkley said occupying top spot felt good but said it would feel a whole lot better if his side remained there as the finals arrived.

 

"It's nice that you're sitting there but again, it's round six – we're actually no different than we were this time last year as far as win-loss," Hinkley said.

 

"It's not that big a deal for us.

 

"If it's round 23 and we're sitting there we'll be much happier.

 

"We've still got lots of work to do and we'll never lose sight of that."

 

Hinkley also warned against reading too much into the Giants' hat-trick of losses, claiming such a young unit could quickly bounce back.

 

As the youngest team in the competition, he said its youthful enthusiasm meant its players wouldn't dwell on their past.

 

The Power is the third youngest side in the League behind the two expansion clubs and Hinkley said they too remained focused on their upcoming challenges.

 

"What they don't do in those young clubs is they don't dwell on what's happened last week, they actually do move on really quick," he said.

 

"They're young, they're full of excitement and they look forward to their next AFL game.

 

"You can expect that they'll be right at the game this week.

 

"We do a really good job of staying in the moment and that's what you have to do at AFL clubs.

"Our blokes are really grounded in what they view each week."

 

The Power will gain a significant boost in attack this week with the return of forward Angus Monfries from a hamstring injury.

 

The 27-year-old missed just three games after tearing his right hamstring against North Melbourne in round three.

 

Monfries would have played last week had the club's season been on the line and Hinkley said the star was 100 per cent fit.

 

"He would have played last week [if it was a final] we made sure we didn't take any risks with him," he said.

 

"He did a full match simulation training last Saturday so it was like a game for him but we just didn't want to take a risk into a game.

 

"Caution was a good thing for us I think last week."

 

Twitter: @AFL_Harry