Port Adelaide believe their Sunday date with Collingwood at the MCG could be season-defining.
The Power are 10th on the AFL ladder – one win out of the top eight – and forward Justin Westhoff says the gap must not get any bigger.
“The way the season is panning out, you can’t afford to let the top eight slip away,” Westhoff told reporters on Monday.
“We’re in a position where we can’t really lose too many games from now on.”
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Collingwood are a win behind Port, who triumphed at the MCG in round six against Richmond.
“You always look forward to playing at the MCG,” Westhoff said.
“We probably haven’t had too may opportunities over the last few years to play there so it’s always a good time to play in front of a big crowd.
“Both teams will want to win desperately – that is just going to fuel the fire a bit for the game.”
Port defender Jack Hombsch is in doubt because of a hamstring injury suffered in the Power’s 45-point win against Melbourne in Alice Springs on Saturday.
Port steamrolled the Demons with six goals to one in the last quarter, with a fast finish that Westhoff said was reminiscent of Port a couple of years ago.
“It was a huge effort by the guys to go up there and win the way we did,” he said.
“We grinded it out after them coming back a little bit in the third quarter, and to be able to produce a last quarter like that – we probably haven’t done that for a while.”
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