WHEN Port Adelaide players take the field against Collingwood tonight they will be playing for pride, retired great Michael Wilson and their own AFL futures. But Port also needs a victory to win the stability of the club.

Never in the Power's 11-year history has the club drawn thinner crowds to AAMI Stadium than this year. The average attendance of 24,410 across nine home games is worse than the barren years of 2000 (26,377) and 2006 (27,257).

"No doubt, that's a combination with the players also. They perform well at the end of the year and they go into pre-season feeling better," assistant coach Matthew Primus said of the need for a good showing to give members hope in 2009. "So if our supporters see a great game Friday and then the following week against Melbourne it gives them a bit of hope to where we're going next year."

Most disquieting for the Power beancounters is that 2008 has witnessed murmurings of discontent among even the club's diehards.

Port's fans have grown perplexed by an on-field combination that is capable of great displays one week and shockers the next.

Last week's tardy effort resulted in a 66-point defeat to Carlton, and so angered the club's coaching staff that players were pushed through a running "punishment" session on the Monday morning.

"Our effort needs to be a lot greater than it was last week, probably more like the way it was against St Kilda, we're looking for that kind of effort and that kind of contested football," Primus said.

"Collingwood pride themselves on that and if we can do that a lot better and match them, our skill level and talent should be able to get us a win.

"Effort is the biggest thing. It's what every individual controls, our leaders control and the coaches do what we can control, so that's what we're looking at …"

AAP