Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge conceded after Friday night's loss to the Cats that it had been a mistake to not tag Patrick Dangerfield early in the clash at Simonds Stadium.

While Lin Jong (24 minutes) and Mitch Wallis (23) would later spend time on Dangerfield, it mattered little, for the Brownlow medallist had dominated the first term and would finish the evening with 36 disposals, four goals, 10 clearances and 12 tackles.

On a night the Cats will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough premiership, against the Power, Hinkley's visitors appear in good shape to be a party-pooper and enjoy their first win in Geelong since that '07 campaign when they prevailed in round 21. They have beaten the Cats only once in 13 matches since.

To begin to reverse that record, it would seem logical match-winner Dangerfield would need to be quelled but the sixth-placed Power will back their normal strategy in the hope of forcing their way into the top four by the end of the weekend.

That strategy didn't work last year when Dangerfield, in his first year as a Cat, had 29 disposals, two goals, 18 contested possessions and seven clearances when the Cats thumped the Power at Adelaide Oval in round five.

The former Crow has averaged 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, six tackles, six inside 50s and nine clearances in his past five matches against the Power.

Hinkley claimed on Wednesday he did not have a tagger to draft into his side, declaring Brad Ebert, who has completed run-with roles, Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper, Brendon Ah Cee and Robbie Gray would all find themselves "opposed" to the Cats midfield.

"We don't have one to bring back in, so we'll just play the way we play," Hinkley said.

"Dangerfield, [Joel] Selwood, [Mitch] Duncan, [Tom] Hawkins, [Steven] Motlop - there's plenty of them out there.

"You go crazy sometimes worrying about them. Our greatest strength is this year is worrying about what we do and we're going to stay in that space."

The Power may also need to find a way of curbing Selwood, for the Cats' skipper enjoyed 29 disposals and 11 clearances against the Bulldogs. Selwood was best afield in round five last year, while Dangerfield pocketed two Brownlow votes.

Hinkley dismissed suggestions the Power need victory over a premiership aspirant, pointing out his men had defeated Fremantle, now fifth on the ladder.

"We should stop talking about scalps. Everyone we play is a big scalp for us," he said.

"We understand they [Geelong] are a significant challenge and they are a great side, they have been for a long, long time. No matter when you play them and where you play them, it is always going to be a tough challenge."

What the Power may have in their favour is freshness, for they had a bye last weekend after their strong win over the Gold Coast Suns in Shanghai.

Hinkley, a former Geelong assistant coach, knows the narrow Geelong ground well, and the Power's attacking ethos should be of benefit in what shapes as a shoot-out between a Port side averaging 112 points per game (second highest) and a Geelong side averaging 109 points (third).

However, the Power have lost Chad Wingard (calf), the dynamic small forward making his name as a clever midfielder this season.

"It was an incident at training where he took off quite quickly and landed sharply and gave his calf a little tweak. He'll be out for a maximum of two weeks," Hinkley said. "Whether it's less than that, we'll keep our fingers crossed."

Forward Aaron Young will replace Wingard. Gray has battled a sore calf and an ongoing groin problem, and the bye came at a good time for the three-time best and fairest who has been restricted to a greater role inside attacking 50.

"We're lucky [the bye] has come around when it did. Rob had that little kick in the calf leading into the China game and he definitely looks better," Hinkley said.

"The speculation [of him not playing] is out of his control, but from his point of view he was always comfortable he was going to play in all the games he's been in."

POWER STRUGGLE: DANGERFIELD V PORT

* Have met 14 times, the equal most (along with St Kilda) of any side Dangerfield has faced. Averages 23 disposals.

* Has averaged 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, six tackles, six inside 50s and nine clearances in his past five matches.

* Had 29 disposals, two goals, 18 contested possessions and seven clearances in the round-five win at Adelaide Oval last year. Collected two Brownlow votes. Joel Selwood was best afield.