AFL: Port confident of storming Hawthorn’s fortress Tassie

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is adamant his side has the credentials to overcome Hawthorn in Launceston

The return of Paul Puopolo has improved the Hawthorn forward line

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is adamant his side has the credentials to overcome one of the most formidable road trips in football when they clash with Hawthorn in Launceston today.

In a solid start to 2018, the Power sit outside the eight on percentage but with a game in hand on their rivals heading into the match against the Hawks.

Alastair Clarkson and his Hawks have proven nigh on ­invincible in Tasmania since ­establishing a base in Launceston, winning 19 in succession heading into last year.

St Kilda ended that streak, while the Hawks also drew with the Giants at York Park in 2017, but they started this season with a win over the Saints in Launceston in round six.

In all, they have dropped just three games in Launceston over the past decade, but Hinkley noted the change in personnel in Hawthorn’s side in recent years as a reason for hope.

Hinkley has good reason to be optimistic. To date this year, Port have beaten top-eight placed teams the Swans and North Melbourne interstate and conquered the Suns in Shanghai.

To underline the strength of the Power’s form, barring any ­unusual circumstances today, they will field the same side for the third match in succession.

This is despite the brutal ­nature of the Showdown, which they claimed over Adelaide in a thrilling finale, and then the trip to Shanghai to play the Gold Coast.

The Port Adelaide coach is confident his side will have no issues striking form on resuming from the bye. Nor is he concerned the international trip proved taxing.

The Hawks head to Tasmania with the aim of kicking more goals. Clarkson has identified a drain in their scoring power as the reason for three successive losses that has seen them slide to 10th.

The four-time premiership coach is confident the issue can be rectified. But just when and how is what he is working on.

“We just have to get a little bit better with the way we use the ball,” he said. “We come up against a really good side this week and they do use the ball particularly well, so we need to ­defend well, but we need to take our chances better than we have in the past.”

The return of small forwards Paul Puopolo, who stood out against the Eagles last week, and Cyril Rioli, who is due back before the bye, assists their structure in the forward line.

Tim O’Brien, who has shown talent as a key position forward, is also back in the side today.

Clarkson is hopeful the home ground advantage will assist the Hawks cause as they seek to ­retain touch with the eight. ­Another loss today would all but end their top-four hopes.

“We would be hoping it is more difficult for them to play (in Tasmania) than Adelaide Oval, because they are very formidable there and very tough to beat over there,” he said.

“If that gives us some sort of slight advantage, we would like to take it, because they are a good side and they have been playing some good footy.”

The Hawks have the most prolific possession winner in the game in Tom Mitchell, but their midfield as a whole has been beaten over the past month.

Hinkley said the focus will not solely be on trying to stifle the influence on Mitchell, though it is likely he will send a run-with player to him, with Brad Ebert a likely candidate.

“The challenge with Tom Mitchell is to bring him back from 40 (disposals) to 30 if you can. You don’t bring a player like him back to 15 or 16,” he said.

“The challenge for us is to share the load with our midfield, which we think is very deep, and hopefully challenge them with our numbers.”