The McDonalds Reds will face off against Port Melbourne in a crucial round eight match at Morshead Park.

Both sides need a win to stay away from the bottom end of the ladder and the Red Devils haven't tasted victory in four weeks.

The team will be buoyed by their second half performance against benchmark outfit South Melbourne.

Were it not for a sloppy opening 20 minutes the Red Devils could have shared, or won, the points in what would have been a dream opening home game last Saturday.

"We didn't turn up in the first 20-25 minutes and we realise that we need to start from the first whistle," Robinson said.

"We've had a really good week on the track (since) and that's built on the back of the second half."

"There's a couple of boys who have done themselves no harm in training this week."

Liam Harding and Shaun Romein are chances to return to the side after missing one and two weeks with suspension and could be instant replacements for Nelson Salvatore and Daniel Firth.

Salvatore has been stuck to the sidelines for several weeks with a lingering injury while Firth copped a heavy knock the shin and ankle last week and is looking at 1-2 weeks out.

Port Melbourne is coming off an impressive 3-2 win over in-form Northcote City and Robinson is wary of what this week's opponents can produce.

"You don't expect to win every match but we're playing at home and we expect to win every home game," he said.

AT A GLANCE

Ballarat v Port Melbourne

at Morshead Park on Saturday

Seniors: 7.45pm

Under-20s: 5.45pm

EXPECTED LINE-UP: 1 Aaron Romein, 16 Charlie King, 25 Steven Thomson, 18 Daniel O'Donnell, 3 Daniel Tinker, 6 Liam Harding, 17 Shaun Romein, 15 Dom Swinton, 22 Pat Karras, 31 Simon Murphy, 4 Dane Milovanovic, James Robinson (coach); Subs, 12 Miles Baker, 5 Adrain Curtain, 11 Bolish Salvatore.