A new home, a short injury list, a top coach and a healthy dash of self-belief.
That's Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson's recipe for the mixture that has taken Port Adelaide to the top of the AFL ladder.
Ahead of their first v second clash on Saturday night, Clarkson said his side had a "huge task", claiming to be one of the few who saw Port Adelaide's rise to the top coming.
"It's no real surprise, they planned some great footy last year as well," he said.
"They're trying to make Adelaide Oval a real fortress, or Portress, for them to their credit.
"The move to Adelaide Oval has helped them enormously, things are really tracking well for them."
But Clarkson said the main ingredient in Port's rise was the attitude of players and coach Ken Hinkley.
"The main thing is belief in their system and the confidence they've got playing with one another," he said.
"They are at the top of their game."
He also gave a wink to their contrasting injury lists, which have Port Adelaide far closer to full strength.
"They've got a full compliment of players available at the moment... they're a really formidable side now," he said.
The Hawks travel to Adelaide Oval depleted but not dispirited as they welcome back Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell.
Clarkson laughed off suggestions he had rushed back his stars for the contest.
"Hodgey could have played against Sydney... he just had a little bit of tightness that hadn't settled.
"We just thought we wouldn't take the risk... but he's good as gold."
Fellow midfield hard-man Sewell has completed a "mini pre-season" over the last month and was raring to go.
"It's his first game back so his expectations aren't going to be as huge as if he's been playing for the last few weeks," he said.
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