SUNDAY'S clash between Port Adelaide and Geelong at Adelaide Oval might be a meeting of the competition's two highest ranked sides, but the Power know exactly the Everest that stands between them and victory.

The Cats have proved too good in each of the past 10 encounters between these sides, a hot streak stretching right back to the club's 2007 119-point Grand Final triumph.

That was the first of three flags in five seasons (2007, 2009, 2011) for the Cats and only once, in 2012, have they finished the home-and-away season outside the top two since.  

This is undoubtedly the finest Port Adelaide unit assembled since 2007 too,  and fresh from a significant win over West Coast in Perth last week, Sunday could be its best chance to end the double-digit losing streak.

Indeed, the losing margins against Geelong under coach Ken Hinkley last year steadily reduced; 48 points in round nine, 25 points in round 20 and 16 points in the second semi-final.

The only way the streak can end though, according to Hinkley, is to perfectly execute his "Port Adelaide brand" of football.

"It's a great challenge – we respect the Geelong Football Club and know how great they've been for a long period of time," he said.

"We know the challenges that they provide for us. They've got a great captain in Joel (Selwood) and Stevie Johnson's in there and (Jimmy) Bartel – all the players that have played lots of football, played premiership football.

"We've played them three times in my time and we've been able to get a little closer each time; hopefully we get a little closer again this time and we'd love to come away with the win.

"But we understand how big a task that is.

"We'll bring a consistent Port Adelaide brand to the game … that's our competitive spirit to the game, our contest – wanting to whack in hard and win our own ball, defend really hard and then absolutely do our best in offence to try and get some score on the board."

Port's defenders will take an equally simple philosophy into halting the form of Geelong's goal kickers.

Tom Hawkins booted a match-winning five goals against Hawthorn on Easter Monday and Johnson managed three of his own in a spectacular 34-possession display.

Power defender Tom Jonas said Alipate Carlile would try to restrain Hawkins and that if the backline could maintain its own form the big Cat would have a tough time replicating his Easter rise.

"'Tomahawk's' (Hawkins) a great player and he's one of their main go-tos, so it's a great opportunity for us – the back six will have to work together to get the job done," Jonas said.
"But we're pretty confident that if we keep playing the way we are that we can do it."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry http://afl.to/harrythring