Port Adelaide has a need for speed to steal the AFL's coveted fourth spot from Fremantle, Power midfielder Hamish Hartlett says.
Port play the Dockers in Perth on Saturday with the winner to take fourth position and a precious double chance into the finals.
Hartlett says Port must employ fast football to overcome Fremantle's renowned defensive strangle.
"We just can't get bogged down into handballing and transferring the pressure from one player to the next because they're an incredibly disciplined side in terms of the way they press," Hartlett told reporters on Monday.
"They press really hard and fast. They force turnovers as well as any team in the competition by making the opposition handball as much as possible.
"We need to be able to release that pressure as soon as we can.
"You can't play slow against any team in the competition, let alone Fremantle."
In the current finals format, no team has won the premiership when finishing outside the top four.
Port have cleared key forwards Jay Schulz (head knock) and Justin Westhoff (knee) to travel to Perth for the crucial encounter.
"History would suggest that you need to be able to make the top four to be able to win a flag," Hartlett said.
"But we're not even looking to the finals, we have still got round 23 to play."
Port haven't beaten Fremantle in Perth since 2008, and last year copped a 74-point away hiding from the Dockers.
But Hartlett said Perth's Patersons Stadium should suit Port's running abilities.
"We love playing on big grounds, it suits our running capacity and the way we play," he said.
"But it's all about being able to use that space as well as we can.
"Fremantle try and force you into using as little of the ground as possible and then they get you on the rebound.
"We need to try and use our running ability to spread the field as well as we can."
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