Gold Coast have won at home again to further congest a crowded ladder and deny Port Adelaide entry into the AFL's top four.
The Suns' 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82) victory on Sunday kept them on the fringe of the top eight, just one win from fourth as the club hunts a maiden finals campaign.
The hosts kicked four-straight goals in the second term to create the buffer, scrambling well enough in the final quarter when the killer blow never came.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick was pleased with the side's improved forward-line connection but admitted their final-quarter options left him frustrated.
"I've probably got to calm down a little bit," Hardwick said of his post-game frustrations.
"When we've got the game (in control) we don't need to be doing certain things.
"Do I think we're capable of high and strong things? Absolutely. And I want our playing group to believe that too. We'll keep driving them as hard as we can."
The win snapped a run of 14 Port head-to-head victories, the Suns' only other their first in club history in 2011.
Port would have moved to fourth, equal on points with second, with victory but could now slip outside the top-eight.
Sam Collins was brilliant in defence for the Suns, who kept the Power out of the corridor and finished their chances well.
The visitors did it tough, losing forward Todd Marshall (hip) to friendly fire when Charlie Dixon landed awkwardly on his legs.
Lachie Jones (neck, concussion) was substituted at quarter-time after Alex Davies collected him high while his head was over the ball.
Davies and teammate Malcolm Rosas, both back into the side this week, could be in tribunal strife, the latter collecting Logan Evans with a stray elbow off the ball.
Victory continued the Suns' unbeaten season at Carrara, a trip to Sydney next week to face the Giants a chance to break their away-game drought and crack the top eight.
Ben King (two goals) was at his imposing best while Sam Collins was authoritative in defence against the returning Dixon.
Rosas (two goals) and Davies (12 tackles, eight clearances) both had an impact, Wil Powell kicked a terrific third-quarter goal and Noah Anderson (29 disposals, one goal) and Sam Flanders (30 touches, one goal) were the prime movers.
Zak Butters (35 touches, one goal) and Dan Houston (34 touches) had plenty of ball but their options inside 50 were often thwarted.
Jason Horne-Francis kicked two goals but gave away four free kicks in a nine-disposal game.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said the 21-year-old would learn to handle the physical attention better and conceded the Suns' transition, opportunism and pressure was superior.
"We were a little bit off what we've been but that's more to do with the Suns than us," he said.
"We're really looking in the moment right now, because we can't afford to go past it.
"It (the ladder congestion) keeps building the pressure you need to perform under each week.
"We're deep in it; it's just a matter of who's going to be able to break through."