Port, who won ten of their opening 11 matches and led the competition at the midway point of the season, have recently slipped out of the competition’s top four with four losses from their last five matches.
Despite Port Adelaide’s lull over the last month of football, Bird said the Swans were expecting the Power to surge back into form on their home deck this weekend.
“They are going to be looking to bounce back,” Bird told reporters on Tuesday.
“They’ve obviously had a couple of disappointing weeks with a few losses, but we played them earlier in the year and they were a really good side.
“They are going to be looking to bounce back and over in Adelaide it’s always a pretty tough ask, so we’re going to have to be on our game and play well early.”
The last time the Swans met Port was in round 13 at the SCG, which Bird recalled as one of his team’s toughest tests so far this season.
In front of more than 41,000 fans at the SCG, the Power stormed home in the final term, but fell four points short of the Swans.
“They were up and going then and were really firing at that stage,” Bird said.
“It was a tough task and they really ran hard and are such a hard-running team and we were in for a tough task and only just got over the line in the end.
“We’re expecting a tough task again and they are going to be looking to bounce back after a few disappointing losses and get their season back on track.”
Preparing for Port Adelaide will be Bird’s only concern this week, with the 25-year-old coming to terms with the club in a deal which will see him remain a Swan for at least the next two seasons.
The New South Wales-born player, who hails from Nelson Bay, said he was glad he was able to put contract talks behind him so he could focus fully on the remainder of the season.
“It’s great to get the deal and I’m looking forward to the next two years,” he said.
“I’m really happy and I’m looking forward to the future.
“I always wanted to stay here.
“I’ve been here for seven or eight years now and (the club) has been such a big part of my life.
“It’s good that I’ve got it down now so I can really focus on the rest of the year.”
Bird said the club’s culture, as well as the prospect of team success were big influences on his decision to remain in the red and white.
“I’ve really developed my football and as a person here and I’ve been surrounded by lots of good people and good coaching staff and a great playing group, so I always wanted to stay and it was good to get the deal,” he said.
“I think we’ve got a pretty strong list at the moment and we’re certainly going to be pushing for the finals and that flag in the next couple of years, so that was definitely part of the decision to stay.”
