Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says creating an club record AFL winning streak by downing Hawthorn on Saturday would carry huge significance.

But Hinkley adds it would be more meaningful for the current season rather than the historical benchmark.

Should Hinkley's raging favourites beat the Hawks at Adelaide Oval, the Power's winning streak will be nine games.

Three times, Port have won eight consecutive AFL matches - in 2002, 2003 and 2014. But those feats weren't followed by winning the premiership.

"It means a lot in the scheme of this season," Hinkley said of the prospect of a a club record.

"It just means we keep our position and we protect our position on the ladder - and we know at round 12 that it really doesn't matter, you just need to keep numbering up with wins.

"And the more wins we can get, the better.

"That's because there's going to be a time in the season where this competition narrows in on everyone and you have just got to have enough wins in front to give yourself a bit of breathing space.

"The reality is, AFL football, it's tough to keep winning.

"We're going after not just nine, we're hoping to get to 10 and 11, we're going to go as far as we can hopefully without losing games ... it puts you in a really healthy position."

The Power sit in second spot entering the clash against the 16th-placed Hawks, although Hinkley was wary of Sam Mitchell's rebuilding side.

"We know what has been making us successful, (but) we understand the threat of the quality of the opposition, we will never underestimate that," he said.

"The Hawthorn footy club and the way they're emerging as a young group, it's pretty exciting for them I would imagine, but a real challenge for us.

"We want to dull their excitement this week as much as we can."

The two clubs will be without their captains.

Port's Tom Jonas will play in state league ranks after failing to regain his spot, folllowing a one-match suspension, while his Hawks counterpart James Sicily has been banned for one game.

The Hawks have summoned Jack Scrimshaw while Power forward Todd Marshall returns after missing the past two matches because of concussion.