They may be playing for their futures but Port Adelaide assistant coach Adam Kingsley denies the Power will perform like a self-centred AFL team against North Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Kangaroos themselves enter the contest with a vibe of collective desperation following coach Dean Laidley's reading of the riot act in the aftermath of an off-colour loss to St Kilda.

Finals remain very much within the sights of the visitors, meaning they will have at least some sort of unifying force to call on at what is likely to be a thinly populated AAMI Stadium.

Not so the Power, now well out of the race and with numerous players withdrawn from battle for reasons of fitness - Chad Cornes' recall notwithstanding.

The likes of makeshift defender Damon White, 100-gamer Nathan Lonie and Greg Bentley will all be fighting to keep their names on the Port Adelaide list, meaning there may be temptation to ignore the team things.

"I think our group is pretty united, I'm not sure that (individuals playing for themselves) will happen," Kingsley said.

"We're obviously pushing team, team, team and we expect guys to play their role in the team and if they don't, they'll come under scrutiny as to whether or not they are playing."

Kingsley was sure that North Melbourne would be properly focused and ready to perform, their application not reduced by the omissions of attacking options Corey Jones and Shannon Grant.

"No-one likes to have their futures questioned or have it put on them when they're not performing to the level they are supposed to or want to, so I'd expect they'd come out hard and tough, as they always do against their opposition.

"They are a very physical team and have been that way for the last ten years.

"They have had a reasonable record against us too, so were expecting a very tough game."

As far as past encounters are concerned, few appear more irrelevant to this week than Port's 2007 preliminary final hiding of the `Roos, a victory that was swallowed up within a week by the Power's grand final surrender to Geelong.

Port are presently a team bereft of virtually all the confidence, poise and creativity they showed during the prelim, while North will be different, too.

"If you think back to the preliminary final last year, I think that will probably still be in their minds, so that's a little bit of motivation for them to come out as hard as they can," Kingsley said.

"We're expecting that, but hopefully we can match them in that area."

Cornes is expected to start his night in midfield, and Port's supporters will be anxious to avoid any worsening of his niggling knee and shoulder injuries.

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