Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi has called on teammates to be "smarter" as they attempt to arrest a recent decline.

The Power have lost their last two games, but cling onto eighth spot - a position Cassisi reckons is spot on.

"We are middle of the road," he said on Monday.

"We're under no illusions that we need to play a good four quarters of footy to get by with a win."

Cassisi said Saturday night's one-point loss to Melbourne in Darwin still burnt.

The Power trailed by 33 points at the last change but fell short after kicking eight goals to three in the final quarter.

"We gave away too many free kicks early and were just a little bit off our game," Cassisi said.

"Our last quarter was good but the damage was already done, and as far as we are concerned, we are not that happy with it.

" ... Our ferociousness at the ball, the way we are playing we are probably at risk of giving more free kicks away.

"We don't want to shy away from the fact that we want to go hard at the ball, we just need to be a bit smarter."

Port hosts winless Richmond on Saturday to start a month which could define their season - with upcoming matches against Hawthorn, Sydney and North Melbourne.

"We have got a really strong belief among the group, I think we have strong character and have shown that a lot of times throughout this year," Cassisi said.

"We think we are never out of the game no matter what the scenario is, we just have to stick together, which is what we are doing."

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