A FEARLESS Port Adelaide will tackle Geelong at the MCG on Friday night confident it can execute a second great upset in as many weeks.
While the Power is under no illusions as to the strength of the Cats' team, midfielder Hamish Hartlett insisted it wasn't scared.
"We’re not frightened by the challenge that we're going to be facing on Friday night," Hartlett said.
"A year or two ago when we faced teams like Geelong we might have said we're a good chance to beat them, all that sort of talk – that positive mindset.
"But deep down we probably thought it was a fair mountain to climb.
"At the moment the belief's really high within the group, we're really confident. It's going to be a very tough challenge and we're aware of that, but it's one we're looking forward to.
The 23-year-old said the Cats' loss to Fremantle last weekend offered glimpses of vulnerability and that the Dockers’ ability to pressure the Cats into unforced errors would serve as the Power's blueprint.
"Geelong pride themselves on their pressure around the ball, that game against Fremantle on the weekend was a great example of that," he said.
"It was probably the most fiercely contested and most intense game that I've seen all year.
"[Fremantle's] skill level under immense pressure was pretty incredible, just the way they were able to force Geelong to make mistakes.
"There's a fair bit to learn from them, they're a great side and have been all year, so I'm sure a few of the boys will look over the tape."
Ken Hinkley’s success as Port Adelaide coach hasn’t surprised Hartlett, given the passion with which Geelong’s players recommended the former Cats’ assistant to the Power last year.
Andrew Mackie even sent Power CEO Keith Thomas a text message urging him to speak to Hinkley for a second time, understanding the eventual coach was favouring a move to Adelaide.
No Geelong player could have possibly thought a former mentor would now be plotting their demise in Friday's semi final.
"Kenny's obviously pretty well known down there and a lot of Geelong guys, when he did get appointed, spoke very positively of him and we can understand why now," Hartlett said.
"It is quite ironic that he's coaching against those guys and trying to potentially knock them out of the finals."
Port trained at Alberton Oval without issue under perfect skies on Wednesday morning,
The injury cloud hanging over youngster Sam Colquhoun has dissipated with the youngster moving well and showing no sign of the hamstring tightness that saw him subbed out of last weekend's elimination final.
Paul Stewart is also at full fitness after starring in his SANFL return from a broken wrist.
