The Power sit a win behind the fourth-placed Dockers with a slightly higher percentage, meaning victory would see the two teams switch places.

 

Port was shown up by Fremantle this time last season, thrashed by 74 points in round 22.

 

While Port went on to win an elimination final that year, Hartlett said the loss served as a reminder of how much improvement was still required.

 

Hartlett and his teammates have taken further steps in their development this season but, like last year, he said Saturday's clash would prove telling.

 

"The equation's pretty simple for us now I guess, get a win and we get a top four spot," Hartlett said.

 

"Last year we took some huge steps compared to the year before and Fremantle proved to us that we were still a significant way off the top three or four teams.

 

"Again, this weekend we'll see where we're at.

 

"It's certainly not going to be easy but we think we're pretty well prepared for it in terms of the way we've been building the last few weeks."

 

Port returned to outstanding form last Friday night, embarrassing Carlton by 103 points at Adelaide Oval.

 

However the win was hardly perfect preparation for who Hartlett described as one of the best defensive teams in the competition.

 

The Power registered 100 more uncontested possessions than the Blues and took 31 more uncontested marks; with very little pressure put on Port's players.

 

Hartlett said the playing group would have to try to replicate the defensive intensity they would come up against in Perth at training this week. 

 

"We've got to create the pressure that we expect Freo to bring out on the training track," he said.

 

"We've just got to try and emulate the way they play as well as we can and force ourselves to be able to handle that pressure."

 

To handle it is one thing, but Hartlett tipped Port's running power would prove key to beating the Dockers.

 

He said the wide expanses of Patersons Stadium could be used against the home side, as long as the Power weren't cornered in.

 

"We love playing on big grounds, it suits our running capacity and the way we play the game, so hopefully that will play into our hands," he said.

 

"It's all about being able to use that space as well as we can; Freo try to force you into using as little of the ground as possible and then they get you on the rebound.

 

"We need to try to use our running ability to spread the field as well as we can."