Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley believes his troops face arguably their biggest test of the season in how they respond to being knocked from top spot on the ladder by arch-rivals Adelaide.

The Power have slipped to second on the ladder behind Hawthorn on percentage for the first time since round 7 after going down by 23 points to the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Port held a 10-point lead at halftime but were toppled in the second half after failing to score a goal for the first time this season in a quarter in the third term before the Crows kicked away in the last stanza.

“It was a disappointing night, but good clubs have to respond from that and that is our test,” Hinkley said.

“We haven’t been in this position that often and I’m talking about where we sit on the ladder, how we protect that and how we work hard to want to keep that spot because we’ve worked hard really hard to get to that point.

“We’ve got a significant test for this week to respond, but it’s no different from having lost to Sydney, having lost to North Melbourne, having lost to Adelaide – the result is that we still lost the game.

“The only difference is that it’s in Adelaide, it’s in a Showdown and so people probably want to make a little bit more out of it.”

The Power will have the chance to bounce back against Essendon when they meet at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night.