Port Adelaide is on edge forward of Sunday’s season-shaping AFL conflict towards Gold Coast.
However Energy coach Ken Hinkley says that is nothing new.
“We’re all the time on edge,” Hinkley mentioned.
“However due to the outcomes, everyone seems to be driving each outcome as a important outcome.
“It is no completely different to us. However we additionally perceive that we maintain our give attention to the week – and understand how vital this week is – we won’t afford to go away from that.
“If that brings a barely higher or completely different edge, I’m not fairly positive.
“These blokes put together each recreation to play at an AFL degree and meaning it’s a must to be on edge.”
The Adelaide Oval encounter looms as defining for each membership’s finals prospects.
The Suns, eyeing a maiden finals berth, are in eleventh spot, one win shy of the highest eight.
And Hinkley’s Port are in twelfth spot, two wins exterior the highest eight.
“They (Gold Coast) are an enormous final-eight contender, clearly,” Hinkley mentioned.
“And they’re 5 (wins) and one (loss) of their final six.
“You’ve gotten in all probability acquired, on type of the final six weeks, the 2 greatest defensive groups having a crack at it.”
Hinkley will enter the fixture with no specialist ruckman, asking utility Jeremy Finlayson to attempt to fight the Suns’ co-captain Jarrod Witts.
On paper, it is a lopsided duel with Finlayson some 12 centimetres shorter and round 12kg lighter than Witts.
“It has been fairly easy for us, that we’ve been getting the outcomes that we have to get and need to get with the present construction that we’ve been utilizing,” Hinkley mentioned.
“The help round floor degree has been vital to us.
“He (Finlayson) has additionally been getting his share of hitouts and with Charlie (Dixon) out there to us as effectively, we’ve acquired some nice flexibility in what we are able to do.”
Hinkley mentioned what occurred when the ball hit the bottom after the ruck contests was extra decisive than who gained the hitout.
“We’ve got had some expertise round what that appears like and the way it works,” he mentioned.
“It is only a fierce battle at floor degree.
“You’ve got be prepared to maneuver into each contest the suitable means, you’ll be able to’t go there pre-planning something, who’s going to win the hitouts.
“You simply know the sport turns into stay as soon as it hits the ground.”
