PORT Adelaide is confident it can avoid an emotional comedown this week after its historic victory over Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
A near-record Showdown crowd attended the game at the new stadium; a spectacle celebrated as a showcase of South Australian football both past and present.
Vice-captain Brad Ebert described the 55-point win as one of the most enjoyable games he's played, while teammate and Showdown medallist Hamish Hartlett said it was as good as last year's elimination final win over Collingwood at the MCG.
The 23-year-old said the build up to Sunday's clash against North Melbourne would be treated the same as their recovery from last year's win over the Magpies.
"For us it was a great feeling, running out in front of 50,000 people it was just one of those experiences that you'll remember that's for sure," Ebert said.
"That was probably up there as one of the best minor round games I've played in.
"Internally we've made sure we've been able to celebrate it, enjoy the game, make sure we review it properly and now we start moving onto what's next and how we're going to beat the Kangaroos.
"We're making sure there's not going to be any let down."
The Power's unbeaten start to the year, coupled with their astonishing 2013 campaign has seen the club's self-belief skyrocket over the past 12 months.
It's seven-goal final-term rampage against the Crows only strengthened that resolve and also strengthened its reputation as the AFL's fittest side.
Ebert said his side entered every game it played believing it could win regardless of opposition, but warned his teammates about thinking victory was assured.
"You've got to make sure you're going in believing you can do it because otherwise you're going to be struggling from the start," he said.
"Over last year and this year the confidence within the group has grown a lot.
"So when [we] come up against any team you do go into a game feeling confident and [believing] in our game style as well.
"You go into games feeling confident that 'what we're wanting to do we can actually deliver' … everyone can beat anyone on their day so we're not going into games thinking 'all right, we've got this one sealed'."
Meanwhile, Port has placed emerging key forward Mason Shaw on its long-term injury list.
The 20-year-old injured his wrist in a SANFL trial game two weeks ago and is expected to miss eight weeks.
No rookie has yet been promoted to replace him.
