Melbourne senior coach Simon Goodwin has flagged the coming weeks as a pivotal point in the Demons' push to defend their premiership, stating "the time is now".
The reigning premiers have amassed just two wins since Round 10, however can thank their 10-0 start to the season for their current place in reaching distance of the ladder's summit, currently sitting in second behind Geelong.
Consecutive defeats to Fremantle, Sydney and Collingwood, and a recent loss to the Cats, placed mounting concern on Melbourne's premiership ambitions, but the red and blue still remain premiership favourites in the eyes of many.
Their remaining six matches will again test their credentials, with four games coming against fellow top six sides and another two against finals hopefuls on the outskirts of the September frame.
Their upcoming encounter against Port Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday shapes as a vital contest for Goodwin and his side to return to winning ways and spark a run of form that can roll from Round 18 to deep into the post-season.
Speaking on the rounds ahead, Goodwin expressed a need to improve on his current game plan, with the Victorian club knowing they have room to grow.
"The challenge is right before us as a footy club," Goodwin said, viaย The West Australian.ย
"We feel like there's still a lot of growth and a lot of improvement in a whole range of different areas.
"But the time is now.
"Six weeks out (from finals), we have got to find a way to improve and set our game up in the best way possible to win at the right time of year.
"We know that footy is a rollercoaster. We know there's going to be times in the season where you're not quite at your best.
"But the thing that sits right before us as a footy club is to get ourselves going.
"We get an opportunity to get back to playing our best footy and set us up in the best way."
The corresponding contest between the Demons and Power saw an undefeated Melbourne side travel to South Australia to tussle with an 0-3 Port Adelaide outfit, a fixture the away side would win convincingly.
However this time round, as the two clubs prepare for a rematch, the contest is sure to look very different as Port Adelaide aim to hold on to waning finals hopes.
"They're a completely different side (now), they're playing a completely different style to earlier in the year," Goodwin said of his Roiund 18 opponent.
"They're playing a really fast style of footy and exciting brand of footy.
"They're going to test us in a whole range of different areas."
The Demons will head into Sunday's clash without star midfielder Clayton Oliver due to a fractured thumb, while defensive duo Harrison Petty (COVID protocols) and Jake Bowey (omitted) will also miss the clash.
Melbourne will have Christian Salem and Ben Brown for this weekend's contest, who - like Petty - missed their side's Round 4 win at Adelaide Oval.
Both the Demons and Power have made the trip to the Northern Territory for Sunday's match, which will take place at TIO Traeger Park at 3:20pm (AEST).
