Port Adelaide are anxious to be reassured at AAMI Stadium that a form lapse by longtime ruckmen Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade is not the start of their decline.

The Power are matched against tough-as-nails Sydney in a fixture that will say much about Port's AFL chances in 2008, plus whether 31-year-old Lade and 29-year-old Brogan have passed their peak.

Port coach Mark Williams admits the complete breakdown of his side's centre-square work last week against Hawthorn had been difficult to accept, accentuated by the fact former captain Matthew Primus, Lade and Brogan had been so dependable for a decade.

"Ladey and Broges know that their performance wasn't up to scratch," Williams said.

"For 10 years we've had Matty Primus, Lade and Brogan rule the rucks and rule the hit-outs, so our guys (midfielders) have had a fairly good ride.

"We continually think, `well that quarter didn't work, but the next one will', because for so many years it's happened.

"Its going to be a huge battle this week. (Sydney's) Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly are fantastic ruckmen and, actually, Jolly towelled us up last time, so without doubt our ruckmen will have to improve on last week and the last time we played Sydney."

Many scoffed when Dream Team coach Williams selected neither of his Port ruckmen for the AFL's 150th anniversary match, saying they had not shown the form required.

That view may now be seen as more genuine as Port's match committee wrack their brains for ways to improve in the centre square.

Given the absence of clearance king Shaun Burgoyne due to his hotly-debated suspension, Port will be up against it to win the stoppage battles against Everitt, Jolly and the Swans' famously ravenous onball brigade.

Much will rest on fit-again pair Chad Cornes and Michael Wilson, who will add considerable grit and courage to the 22, if not the silken, clean movement of Burgoyne.

"Chad and Michael will spend some time in the midfield, so that will go a long way towards improving that (the centre)," Williams said.

"They have wonderful experience, they are both premiership players and they're really tough, so it's fantastic to have them back in the side.

"They are two great leaders of our team and have been for a long time."

Port are mounting quite a list of galling defeats in 2008, but the 10-goal defeat to the Swans, mainly due to a non-competitive third quarter, still sticks in Williams' memory.

"The playing group is very aware of how poorly they played that day in Sydney and what we dished up," he said.

"We probably haven't dished that up since, although the last quarter against Brisbane was pretty poor, but the rest of the time we've been very competitive.

"We'd like to think we could play four quarters this week and win.

"If you look at the finals group, there are three or four teams that have taken off ahead of everyone, then there are a whole lot of teams in the middle that have a chance and we're one of those."

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