PORT ADELAIDE has gone back to basics this week in a bid to solve the puzzle that has plagued Mark Williams and his coaching staff for the past two years- how to beat the Sydney Swans.

The Swans have successfully stifled the Power’s trademark run and carry in the past two hit-outs between the two sides and ruckman Brendon Lade says his team has spent plenty of time this week devising plans to break free of the Swans’ chokehold.

“We’re preparing for one of our toughest games of the year. We’ll be playing on a small ground and against some very tough opposition in Sydney, who are one of the best shutdown teams in the AFL,” Lade said.

“We’re going to have our work cut out for us this weekend, but we’ve had a lot of meetings this week to discuss their style of play and how we want to play against that, so hopefully we can go across and grab the four points.”

Traditionally the Swans’ tight, close-checking style of play has frustrated the Power into coughing up possession of the ball or reverting to a game plan that contradicts the fast, attacking brand Port Adelaide prides itself on.

Chad Cornes, who could be tagged by Adam Goodes, and clearance king Shaun Burgoyne are two players the Power will look to free up on Sunday.

Burgoyne had a tough night against Geelong’s Cameron Ling in round one and is likely to receive the attention of Brett Kirk this weekend.

Burgoyne averages just 13 possessions against the Swans, which is his lowest return against any of the other 15 AFL teams.

“Its not just Shaun [we have to help out]- it’s everyone I think. There aren’t many passengers in the Swans side and they all do their job for the team, which is something we’re going to have to counteract,” Lade said.

“Whether that means working together in pairs to help each other out and putting on blocks- it’s just those little things that you probably do in under-age football that we need to bring out again against Sydney.

“Our strengths are obviously our pace and our skills as well, so it’s just a matter of working out a way of how to use those strengths in the game against Sydney.

“We did a little bit of work this morning on how we can get ourselves free.”

The Power have also spent a fair bit of time in front of the big sticks this week after being left to rue what might’ve been in a pressure-cooker final quarter against the Cats last week.

“We’ve worked a bit on our goalkicking this week already. I think in that last quarter against Geelong we kicked 4.6, so we definitely had a chance to win but that’s in the past and hopefully we can kick a lot straighter this week because of its one of those dour games- you need to kick all your goals,” Lade said.

“It was six goals all when the Swans played St Kilda last week and they kicked a lot of points, so we have to make sure we get out shots at goal this week.

Defender Troy Chaplin breezed through training on Wednesday afternoon and is likely to make his return from a five-week injury layoff.

Nathan Krakouer (calf) and Robbie Gray (adductor) will also face fitness tests later in the week, but are both expected to resume in the SANFL.