David King believes Port Adelaide must win their Round 1 clash against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval.
While the Lions enter as favourites, King says the Power simply need to win as pressure builds on out-of-contract coach Ken Hinkley.
With an expectation of contending for the premiership this season, King says Port Adelaide must get off on the right track to start heading in that direction.
“This is the most significant home and away game in Adelaide for years,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“Ken Hinkley has got it all on the line, (Round 1) absolutely.
“Look at their first five weeks, they play like types, four of the five games are against contenders.
“Port Adelaide, after a decade at the helm for Ken Hinkley, have to be a contender this year.
“Everyone expects and I think the club demands a minimum top four (finish).
“If that’s to be the case, you have to beat fellow top eight/top four teams to get there.
“On the road Brisbane, it’s a must (win).”
King believes getting an early win is imperative given their tough early schedule which sees them play Collingwood, Adelaide, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs after facing the Lions.
“If they lose this one, they come to the MCG for Collingwood next week, they won’t be favourites to win that,” King said.
“Then there’s the Showdown, always a 50-50 game, then they go to Sydney, they have to travel up there and try and get four points against the Swans, that’s hard to do.
“Then the Western Bulldogs come over for Gather Round, it’s an awful five weeks.
“This is an absolute must this week, he’s already starting against the odds, he has to start 1-0.”
While King doesn’t expect the players to fold completely if they lose one game, he can see the group losing faith in Hinkley if they endure a rocky month to start to the campaign.
“You just lose faith,” King said.
“The group loses faith, once you lose that 100 per cent trust from all facets of your football club that you’re still the man, it’s untenable, that’s the reality.
“It doesn’t happen after one round, but if you put those five weeks together (it could be).
“I’m looking at this block of five, if you can’t win at home against like types, when will you win at home?”
The Power and Lions meet at 4:35pm (AEDT) at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.