1. A shootout
Saturday’s Preliminary Final will see the two highest scoring teams in the competition face off.

Hawthorn – the competition’s leading scorers – has a formidable forward line, including the trio of Jarryd Roughead, Luke Bruest and Jack Gunston – who have all booted more than 50 goals in 2014.

The Power’s back six have been impressive, but will have arguably the toughest challenge in the game stopping the Hawks firepower.

Expect Jackson Trengove or Alipate Carlile to go to All-Australian Roughead. Tom Jonas or Cam O’Shea are the likely match-up for Luke Bruest, while Jack Gunston is expected to be watched by Jack Hombsch.

Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett both said during the week the Power’s midfield needs to pressure the Hawks all over the ground to make the defenders’ jobs easier.

Hawthorn, likewise, will have some headaches down back, with the Power’s forwards in red-hot form – having booted 20 goals against Richmond and 16 against Fremantle.

Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray both popped up with four goals, and along with the Power’s leading goal kicker Jay Schulz, the enigmatic Justin Westhoff, livewire Jake Neade and the reliable Angus Monfries form one of Port Adelaide’s biggest weapons.

2. Handling the pressure
Ken Hinkley said on Friday that the Power didn’t cope well enough with the pressure in the first half against Fremantle.

Hinkley believes handling the heat early and continuing to be brave in attack will be important to overcoming the Hawks.

The Hawks experienced heads have plenty of experience in big games, including the 2013 Grand Final, so don’t expect them to be overcome by the moment.

The Power’s second half certainly proved they can adjust to the pressure, but it’s absolutely vital they don’t give the Hawks a head-start like they did with Freo in the Semi-Final.

3. Never give up
Overcoming a 31-point deficit against Freo in Perth in a cut-throat Semi-Final has further enhanced the Power’s belief that they are never beaten.

The strongest fourth quarter side in the AFL, the players know that if they in the game, they can come home strong.

But Hinkley would much prefer his charges come out strong and create a 24-point lead at half time, rather than the four goal deficit they faced last week at the major break.

4. Momentum or the break?
The Power come into the game off the back of a big Elimination Final win and a famous Semi-Final win in the west, while the Hawks won’t have played in two weeks after their win over Geelong in the Qualifying Final.

There is no doubt the added break will freshen up some players at Hawthorn, but Port Adelaide’s momentum could come into play.

As Hinkley has said throughout the Power’s September charge, he feels group has been building since its Round 20 clash with Sydney.

The result against the Swans may not have been in favour of the Power, but the way they played left Hinkley with plenty of belief. A strong performance against the Suns up on the Gold Coast, a 103-point thrashing of Carlton and a narrow loss to Freo over in Perth to round out the minor season will only have strengthened Hinkley’s belief – especially after two impressive finals wins.