Hinkley’s Power sit in fourth spot on the ladder but are yet to defeat a side in the top eight when the teams clashed.

That record has many pundits querying whether Port are the real deal ahead of hosting the sixth-placed Tigers at Adelaide Oval.

“I acknowledge the commentary around it and understand it,” Hinkley told reporters this morning.

“For us, we can only control what we do and that is the way we play.

“And tomorrow night will give us the best chance to take some of that commentary away.”

Hinkley said the doubts were a “little bit” annoying.

“We have played 13 games. At some stage we have played some sides that are OK,” he said.

Richmond’s in a similar boat to the Power – of the Tigers’ eight wins this season, only two have been against sides currently in the top eight.

But Hinkley said those statistics were near-meaningless in a topsy-turvy season featuring many upset results.

“Have you ever tried to do the ladder predictor?” Hinkley said.

“It’s a waste of time because by Sunday night there will be three or four upsets and you won’t know what is going on.

“So stop worrying about it, I reckon. Get to round 23 and have a look at the ladder.”

Hinkley said he was wary of Richmond, particularly their big guns – forward Jack Riewoldt, key defender Alex Rance and midfielders Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin.

“They have got a great key defender, a great full forward and they have got a midfield that is elite,” he said.

“And then they have got this group of players buying in to what Dimma (Tigers coach Damien Hardwick) is talking about.”

Hinkley was uncertain whether Rance would be deployed on Port’s Robbie Gray or Charlie Dixon.

And he said quelling Riewoldt wouldn’t come down to just one Power defender, most likely Tom Jonas.

“Jack is a great player, we understand that,” he said.

“But the individual (defender) will be found out if he’s left to do it on his own. It will be more about what everyone is doing together.”

-AAP