They’re just the sixth team in the AFL era to reach four consecutive preliminary finals but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is pulling no punches with the task that lies ahead of the Tigers.

Friday’s 31-point win over St Kilda has set up a mouth-watering grand final qualifier at the Adelaide Oval between the Tigers and minor premiers Port Adelaide.

The reigning premiers were undone by the Power in South Australia, falling to a 21-point loss in round 11 the last time the teams met.

It was a result that Hardwick felt could have been even worse on the night.

“Massive. Massive challenge,” the two-time premiership-winning coach said of next Friday’s clash.

“They’ve been the best side all year. They’re playing on their home deck. It’s a hostile environment but we can’t wait to get over there and challenge them.

“I thought in fairness the scoreboard … it flattered us, a little bit, over there.

“I thought it was good game of footy but the reality is they dominated in a lot of KPI areas so we have a fair bit of work to do to catch them and make sure we play a hell of a lot better than we did last time.”

The Tigers will be hoping the Match Review Official doesn’t take a dim view of an incident in the third quarter of the semi-final win over the Saints involving Tom Lynch.

The key forward, who has received multiple fines for incidents this season already, appeared to drop a knee on Dougal Howard’s neck and shoulder area as they tangled during the third quarter.

Hardwick was confident the incident wouldn’t cost Lynch a place in the preliminary final and the big forward would be clear to face the Power.

With premiership-winners Shane Edwards and Dion Prestia hitting their best form after missing most of the season, the Tigers coach believes his team is in much better shape for this trip to Adelaide than August’s.

“He’s one of those guys that, you look at our connection inside 50, we haven’t had for the vast majority of the year,” Hardwick said of Edwards.

“Him, and Dion is another one, two guys that have really got clean and polish across the arcs. So we bring those guys in there’s no doubt we’re better for it.

“We’ll accept that that it’ll be a hostile environment and Port Adelaide are a great side but we’re capable of beating anyone when we play our very best.”