Fast-finishing Carlton must surely be confident of running all over the top of Port Adelaide for the second time this year at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

The 11th-placed Blues have made a habit of producing an irresistible back-end to their games this year, either winning dramatically, as they did against the Western Bulldogs a fortnight ago, or falling only narrowly short as was the case against Adelaide last week.

Port, by contrast, have been one of the poorest second half sides of 2008, twice giving up six goal leads at home and last week failing to convert a 21-point third term advantage into a win over St Kilda.

Missing a host of experienced performers, including captain Warren Tredrea, Chad Cornes, Steven Salopek, Brendon Lade and now retired great Michael Wilson, the Power's goals for the remainder of the year are developmental, with coaching staff looking as much for individual efforts as they are the team result.

However Port ruck/midfield coach Matthew Primus said there was also some pride at stake following their last term surrender to the Blues in round 11.

"We haven't mentioned it yet but we'll definitely look at it and talk about it at tonight's meeting at the hotel," Primus said of Carlton's finishing.

"I think everyone's aware of how good they are (finishing games) and last time they charged us down from six goals behind so we're going to be aware of that but we think we've improved our second halves since the middle of the year and hopefully we're ahead at three-quarter time and can hold on.

"(Round 11) probably sticks in the players' minds and I think also Carlton have got a fair bit on it trying to play for finals, so you add those together and hopefully our guys respond pretty well."

The Power have swung several changes to their fringe group this week, dropping Toby Thurstans, Nathan Lonie and Greg Bentley for Damon White, Troy Chaplin and Peter Burgoyne, who was recalled after a disciplinary ban.

Primus was adamant this was not the end of the road for Thurstans, Bentley or Lonie, but acknowledged that they alongside White were very much on the edge.

"It doesn't mean the end for those guys who come out, we mainly want to see Mitch Farmer play down back, (Fabian) Deluca in the ruck and (Nick) Salter up forward and we think that's exciting," he said.

"Toby's pretty critical to our backline, it's a matter of looking at Damon White, and Bentley and Lonie, we've seen what they've done over the last four weeks and they'll probably get another crack before the end of the year and we'll decide what happens after that.

"(White) has got four weeks to show us if he's a backman or a forward - if he can play both it would be great.

"He's definitely got the challenge ahead of him, he knows that and he's comfortable with it."

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