Port Adelaide looks set to ignore media criticism and persist with hot-and-cold midfielder Danyle Pearce when the Power plays the Eagles at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Port hardly had a winner against Melbourne last weekend but it was Pearce who received the most negative attention from observers of the game.
Former Hawk and now Triple M commentator Shane Crawford said Pearce 'hoisted the white flag' against the Demons and former Power player Josh Francou thinks the 23-year-old should be traded.
Francou says Pearce is good in space but not effective enough when's he getting tagged.
Port has sent a number of experienced players back to the SANFL this season because of the team's inconsistent efforts but Pearce appears to have won a reprieve ... for now at least.
Travis Boak, who will return to the side after missing several weeks with a knee injury, said the 2006 NAB Rising Star winner had the club's full support.
"A few boys have copped a bit of flak, Pearcey has been one of them and the team is right behind him," Boak said.
"He's doing the one percenters for the team, he's helping the team out … he's getting tagged every week and taking another man out."
"We think he's been one of our best players, not because he's getting 20 plus possessions or he's not getting 20 plus possessions but he's taken another player out of the play and helping someone else like Kane (Cornes) or Dom (Cassisi)."
Boak said outside criticism can be distracting for players but thought Pearce would be able to push on despite the negative vibes from his doubters.
"It probably can sit at the back of some players' minds but Pearcey is very strong," he said.
"The guys know he's probably copped a bit of criticism ... but we are going to give him confidence, we are going to give him the ball, we are going to tell him to run and things like that."
Boak said the coaching staff were 'right behind' Pearce as well.
Meanwhile the Power believe they can get the edge in the midfield battles the Eagles with Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr set to miss this Sunday's game.
"Obviously last time we played them we copped a bit of stick in the midfield. Brogs (Dean Brogan) and Ladey (Brendon Lade) are going to have a tough day again with (Mark) Seaby, and (Nic) Naitanui has been pretty good since he come in," he said.
"Hopefully it will give us an advantage without Cox - one of the best ruckmen in the league - so we are probably going to look at that and hopefully we can get on top in the midfield."