Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has returned to work with a challenge for his players.

Hinkley was banned from flying because of a virus and missed Port’s first defeat of the season, to North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday.

But the first-year coach on Monday performed half of Port’s game review, with his caretaker Alan Richardson doing the other half.

Hinkley bluntly challenged his players to respond to the loss when they host Richmond on Saturday.

“It was mentioned that the good teams don’t lose two games in a row. And we want to be one of those good teams,” Port backman Alipate Carlile told reporters.

“Two games in a row, we just don’t want to lose. It’s going to be a massive focus for us this week.”

Hinkley will return to the helm for Port’s home game against the Tigers with defender Jasper Pittard hoping to return from a two-week absence with a hip injury.

Hinkley watched the Power’s first loss of the season on television – though Carlile said the coach’s absence was barely noticed.

“Richo did a great job on game day and the days leading up to it. He was unreal, I couldn’t fault it,” Carlile said.

“Obviously he’s a different personality, but we just wanted to go about our business as we normally do.”