HISTORY shows there’s nothing like a milestone game to snap a losing streak.

Last year the Power dropped four games straight betweens round eight and 11 and broke the spell in skipper Warren Tredrea’s 200th game.

On Sunday, much-loved ruckman Brendon Lade will become just the third Port Adelaide player to reach 200 and, hopefully, the players see fit to give him the reward he deserves.

Port Adelaide’s recent form: lost to Brisbane Lions by 20, lost to Adelaide by nine, lost to Sydney by 68 and lost to Geelong by nine.

Recent results against West Coast:
Second QF, 2007 Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) d West Coast 9.11 (65), AAMI
Round 15, 2007 Port Adelaide 22.21 (153) d West Coast 9.8 (62), AAMI
Round 12, 2006 Port Adelaide 13.19 (97) d West Coast 8.12 (60), AAMI
Round 10, 2005 West Coast 27.17 (179) d Port Adelaide 9.8 (62), Subiaco
Round 17, 2004 Port Adelaide 16.6 (102) d West Coast 9.22 (76), AAMI

Strengths:

In the first three quarters against the Lions last week, the Power rediscovered their fast, attacking style of play and looked like running away with their first win of the season. Port Adelaide’s fourth quarter effort, or lack thereof, was jaw dropping, but the players should take plenty of heart from the opening three terms.

Not even Barry Hall’s roundhouse hit on Brent Staker could ignite West Coast last week, who suffered another 10-goal plus defeat. Coach John Worsfold is already without Matt Priddis and is sweating on the fitness of David Wirrpanda and Andrew Embley. Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr also appear to be hampered by injury and if the Power can string together four decent quarters, they should have too much run for the wounded West Coast.

Potential weakness:

Milestone man Brendon Lade said a lack of concentration was the reason behind Port Adelaide’s 30-minute fadeouts this season. The club has been focused on rectifying these lapses since round two, but so far has come up empty.

Port Adelaide has been powerless to stop teams slamming on four, five, or in the case of last week, nine quick goals this season and away from home at Subiaco’s house of pain, the visitors can’t allow West Coast to get a run-on.

They’re sweating on:

Quite simply, just getting a win. The Power recovered from four straight losses last season to reach the last Saturday in September, but with Port Adelaide facing finals-bound St Kilda, Hawthorn and a re-match with the Swans in the coming month, a win on Sunday is a must.

Dangermen:

Chad Cornes: Cornes averaged 27 touches and two goals against West Coast in 2007 and was a key contributor in Port Adelaide’s commanding first half against the Lions.

The dual All-Australian had a club-high seven clearances last week, despite spending considerable time in the forward line. Chad and brother Kane are two of the fiercest competitors at Port Adelaide and the duo will be determined to get the Power on the winners' list in 2008.

David Rodan: Rodan was clearly the best player on the ground last week until he was shut down by Lions onballer Justin Sherman. The talented midfielder gathered 26 touches (20 in the first half) and also racked up five clearances. Rodan’s burst of speed is electric and his capacity to win the hard ball is essential in this Port Adelaide team.

Brett Ebert: The Power’s 2007 leading goal kicker started the season with three goals against Geelong in round one, but has managed just one in the past three games. Ebert, like many forwards, is a confidence player and he, along with Daniel Motlop, Justin Westhoff and Warren Tredrea, will need to have an influence with his second efforts if the game isn’t going his way.

It’s not generally known …

Port Adelaide has a 60 per cent winning average at Subiaco Oval, second only to West Coast, which wins on its home deck 72 per cent of the time.

The Power’s winning record in the West is even better than that of home side Fremantle, which has the third best average in the league, with wins 54 per cent of the time.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.