A victory over Gold Coast in Shanghai probably won't convince all of Port Adelaide's doubters but assistant coach Matthew Nicks has no doubt what it would mean in the wake of their gripping Showdown triumph.
Saturday's clash against the Suns at Jiangwan Stadium looms as a golden opportunity for the Power to notch consecutive wins for the first time since round three.
Port's hot and cold form, including big losses to pacesetters West Coast and Geelong, has had many questioning their credentials.
But last week's five-point victory over bitter rivals Adelaide has lifted spirits at the club, as has a smooth build-up to the second annual China game.
While a sellout crowd of about 11,000 fans is expected at Jiangwan Stadium, it will be a far cry from the cauldron of a packed Adelaide Oval.
Nicks hopes that won't matter to his side, whose performance in key areas such as contested possessions lifted markedly during the emotion-charged Showdown.
"I think (the occasion of a Showdown) has a massive effect but what you'd like to think is your group gets mature enough that they don't need that," Nicks told reporters on Friday.
"That's our stepping stone; that's our growth area, to perform no matter where.
"Showdowns our group are always going to get up for but that doesn't mean they're going to be able to bring it. We need to travel anywhere in the world as we have at this point and perform at that level."
Nicks was a late arrival to Shanghai on Thursday along with midfielder Jared Polec, the pair both struck down by a virus.
Polec took part in a light training session on Friday and is expected to play with Port set to stick with an unchanged side from the Showdown.
Nicks said he wasn't concerned Polec had missed the club's main training session.
"If it was a first-year player who was coming over and playing for the first time, it would be nice to get them a little earlier so they can settle in," he said.
"But he's an experienced campaigner so we're happy that he'll come in and he'll play his role."
Eighteen-year-old Jacob Heron will debut for Gold Coast while midfielder David Swallow is doubtful after training with his right calf heavily strapped.
Heron, whose mum and brother surprised him by showing up to Shanghai on Friday, isn't the first AFL player to debut overseas - Josh Saunders and Brodie Murdoch both debuted for St Kilda during their 2013 match against Sydney in New Zealand.
But the youngster's head was still spinning when told he would be coming in to replace suspended forward Sam Day.
