Port Adelaide's sole premiership survivor Kane Cornes has a message for his callow teammates: embrace the pressure.
But Cornes, who will equal Port's club record for most finals played in Sunday's AFL elimination bout against Richmond, says he's not the chest-thumping type.
"I don't seek them out and try and slam anything down their throat but I'm there if they need me," Cornes told reporters on Thursday.
The 31-year-old will play in his 17th final on Sunday, equalling the club benchmark of Warren Tredrea and Peter Burgoyne.
Cornes enters his seventh finals campaign as the only member of Port's 2004 flag still at the club - his sole premiership teammate still playing is Shaun Burgoyne at Hawthorn.
Cornes urged his current teammates to welcome the pressure of Sunday's elimination final against the fast-finishing Tigers, who carry a nine-game winning streak into the play-offs.
"I feel fortunate to have played in so many finals and certainly don't take them for granted, especially at the stage I'm at in my career," said Cornes, who will continue playing next year.
"Last year was a big bonus for us and most of the guys playing this weekend got to experience that, got to experience how good it felt when we won that first final in Melbourne.
"It's a different experience for us now, having a home final and the added pressure and expectation that brings.
"But the message to the group is just to enjoy it, soak it up, because it's not every year you get to play in September."
Last season was Port's first finals appearance in five years: they upset Collingwood in an elimination final at the MCG before losing to Geelong by 16 points in a semi-final at the same venue.
Cornes, a four-time club champion, said the Power were now a stronger side.
"Our best footy this year was better than our best footy last year," the 290-gamer said.
"The group ... feel really confident with the way we're playing and the way our brand of footy should stand up on Sunday.
"It's just great to be the third youngest list or whatever we are and playing finals. It's just a great experience for all of them.
"But whilst we are that, we're not here just to make up the numbers."
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