Embattled Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea will try to halt a rising tide of criticism by playing a dominant AFL game against Adelaide in Sunday's showdown.

The only problem for Tredrea is he will be playing an opponent that has a habit of bringing out his worst.

Even at his peak, Tredrea very rarely managed to be a stand-out against the Crows, and the last time he did so was back in 2004.

In round seven that year Tredrea nabbed seven goals in a losing cause, but since then he has been consistently blanketed by Adelaide's defence generally and fullback Ben Rutten in particular.

Port's last showdown win, in late 2006, came in a match that Tredrea did not take part in due to knee surgery.

On Wednesday though Tredrea was adamant about the best way to respond to widespread pronouncements that he was finished as an AFL footballer.

"I think the only way to respond (to criticism) is on the field - I've been pretty happy with my output so far this year compared to previous seasons coming off an injury," Tredrea said.

"Footy has changed a lot, its about a group of forwards and not just one forward and that's a transition I've been through.

"In saying that, the criticism from the weekend, it was probably the worst game I've played in a long, long time and I'll be looking forward to turning that around again this week."

Tredrea was unmoved by talk among North Melbourne supporters that his last minute miss to cost Port the game last week was "karma" for his contemptuous bow to the AAMI Stadium crowd during the 2007 preliminary final.

"If you're talking about a celebration that happened over six months ago, and I think that's what was referred to," Tredrea said, "then I would've thought there have been some more average things to happen on the football field of late than someone taking a bow and supporting their supporters."

Pigeonholed as an aloof and isolated figure, not always loved by teammates, Tredrea found support from the familiar corner of his coach Mark Williams.

"At this time last year, I was unsure if he was going to play again," Williams said.

"I was unsure if he'd play this year, I didn't think his output last year was anything near up to the standard we expect from him.

"He's a very determined man and he likes to prove people wrong, his pre-season and what he's done this year has been outstanding.

"Also, from a captain's point of view, the way he's led and the way he's showed players, both on the field and on the track, what people can do under that sort of adversity has been brilliant.

"You play a bad game, everyone does, and he acknowledges that - he hasn't walked away from it.

"I'm confident he will be playing next year."

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