Port Adelaide will seek to avoid a repeat of the Jim Stynes-inspired ambush that sank West Coast last week when they meet Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

An urge to win for their ailing but popular president remains extremely strong among the Demons, and certainly contributed to the team's spirit against the Eagles.

But the Power have little chance to pause for reflection, needing a win to keep striving for the AFL top eight following a heartening home performance against Brisbane.

Port coach Mark Williams said he expected Melbourne to be up and about much as they were against the Eagles, given their possession of a powerful motivator that in many ways transcends the usual peaks and troughs.

"We expect them to be pretty confident about what they are doing and obviously coming off a win and with the emotion of Jimmy Stynes they are going to be up and looking forward to trying to string two in a row," he said.

"It's always difficult. You'd like to think you can get the same results, when you see people in the World Series baseball when they play best of seven or basketball, it's amazing how you can get different results within a short period of time."

Dees ruckman Mark Jamar had little hesitation jumping into young Eagle Nic Naitanui at the centre bounces last week, and his physicality provides a sterner test for Port tandem Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan than Brisbane were able to provide.

"Jamar is a very workmanlike ruckman," Williams said.

"He gives everything he can and he continually does it. They haven't named (Paul) Johnson but who knows whether he plays or not.

"We'd like to think that our guys can produce some sort of result like last week but nothing's guaranteed and you have to get out there, the ball's bounced and away you go.

"I'm sure he'll be confident that he can nullify our rucks and give their guys the opportunity to score from stoppages and ours guys will be trying to do the same."

Williams offered a word of support for his opposite number Dean Bailey, a longtime assistant at the Power before grabbing the Melbourne job on the eve of the 2007 finals series.

"Dean has been put in a very difficult situation, and I think some of the explanation he would've given would be he understands it takes time," Williams said.

"He has got a board and management group behind him that are understanding of that. They see him putting in young players and putting speed into their group so when it comes through on the other side they are going to say it was well timed and well executed.

"Dean followed closely how we progressed and also with (Alastair Clarkson) at Hawthorn ... Clarko and Hawthorn spent a fair time down the bottom and they took a fair time to start to get their act together and there was a lot of knockers and uncertainty but they came through the other side.

"I'm sure Dean is rolling out the same plan."

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