The fierce blowtorch on Port Adelaide won't lull Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell into a false sense of security ahead of their AFL semi-final.
An 84-point thrashing from Geelong last week has left the Power on the verge of becoming only the second team this century to suffer consecutive straight-sets finals exits.
If that happens, questions about coach Ken Hinkley's 272-game tenure - the longest in AFL/VFL history without reaching a grand final - will again hit fever pitch.
But Mitchell believes the public narrative is "underselling Port Adelaide significantly" leading into Friday night's knockout clash at Adelaide Oval.
"There's a lot of focus on that they didn't play well last week and there's a bit of negativity around them," Mitchell said on Wednesday.
"But to me they finished second, they had won six games in a row, including beating Sydney by over 100 points, in the stretch before it.
"They had one bad performance and everyone's writing them off. We need to not fall into the public trap."
Port became the 12th team under the current finals system - which was introduced in 2000 - to lose a qualifying final by 50 or more points.
But all 11 previous teams in that position have bounced back to win their semi-final the following week.
Mitchell described Hawthorn's most recent meeting with the Power - a one-point defeat after coughing up a 41-point lead in round 10 - as "one of the more heartbreaking losses" of his three years as coach.
The 41-year-old has reviewed aspects of that game with his players this week but notes both sides have changed significantly in almost four months since then.
The Hawks are braced for a battle on and off the field, with a one-eyed Port crowd lying in wait.
"We're going away to probably the most hostile environment in the competition," Mitchell said.
"It will be as loud as the MCG last week but instead of it being neutral or 60-40 crowd, it's going to be 95-5, so we aren't taking this game lightly at all.
"We understand what's going to come this week, it's going to be massive for us and we need to be ready."
Mitchell rejected suggestions Hawthorn will target Power midfield star Zak Butters, who was substituted out of the loss to Geelong with sore ribs and has had a light week of training in the build-up to the semi-final.
"I think there's actually rules around specific injuries and trying to go after them. We won't be talking about it," Mitchell said.
"We like to think that we play a pretty physical brand of game and he's been the most courageous player in the competition the last two years, as voted by his peers.
"So I don't think he's the type of person you're going to be able to intimidate. If he says he's right to go."
