Six Power players face a fitness test before the Round 1 clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
We take a look at who’s in the mix for selection for the Power and the Blues.
Port Adelaide
Key defenders Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove both face fitness tests at training on Thursday to prove they can take their place against the Blues.
Neither player has had a competitive hitout in 2014, but Ken Hinkley will be keen to get his two key defenders back as soon as he can.
Hinkley has, however, been impressed with their ‘understudies’ – Jack Hombsch and Tom Clurey.
Hombsch and the untried Clurey have performed admirably in Carlile and Trengove’s absence and look more than capable of stepping into their shoes should they be required in Round 1.
Even if Trengove and Carlile are declared fit, don’t be surprised if Hombsch still forces his way into the starting 22.
The pressure for spots down back is felt by the running defenders too, with Jasper Pittard and Jarman Impey both impressing in pre-season hitouts against Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda.
Pittard, who turns 23 this year, will see 2014 as a season to cement himself in the AFL side and his early form suggests he’s up to the challenge.
The Power’s 2013 first-round draft pick, Impey has done everything right so far in the pre-season, but still faces a tough challenge to keep his spot for Round 1, with the more experienced likes of Dom Cassisi, Matthew Broadbent and Cam O’Shea all rotating through the back-line.
New recruits Jared Polec and Matt White have impressed throughout the pre-season and are every chance to make their club debut on Sunday night.
Forwards Robbie Gray and Jay Schulz both need to get through training on Thursday, but are likely to take their spots in the starting 22 against Carlton.
It appears likely the Power will go into Round 1 with just one ruckman – Matt Lobbe – with Brent Renouf still on the rookie list at this stage.
AFL.com.au’s best 22 – Port Adelaide
B: Tom Jonas, Alipate Carlile, Jarman Impey
HB: Cameron O'Shea, Jackson Trengove, Jasper Pittard
C: Kane Cornes, Brad Ebert, Jared Polec
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Paul Stewart, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
FOLL: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett
INT: Ollie Wines, Andrew Moore, Matt White
SUB: Matthew Broadbent
Port Adelaide injury list
Jay Schulz - foot sprain (assess)
Alipate Carlile - quad soreness (assess)
Jackson Trengove - knee (assess)
Aaron Young - shoulder (assess)
Andrew Moore - shoulder (assess)
Matt White - knocked knee (assess)
Paul Stewart - calf (1-2 weeks)
Campbell Heath - shin soreness (1-2 weeks)
Jarrad Redden - knee (4-5 weeks)
Carlton
The Blues will go into Round 1 with a very healthy list. Just Andrew Carrazzo (calf), Sam Docherty (knee) and Chris Judd (achilles) are unavailable.
Swingman Lachlan Henderson has been declared fit to play after making his return in the VFL for the Northern Blues on the weekend, where he booted three goals.
Collingwood recruit Dale Thomas is fit and ready to play his first game for the Blues following a solid pre-season.
AFL.com.au’s best 22 – Carlton
B Zach Tuohy, Michael Jamison, Andrejs Everitt ?
HB Andrew Walker, Matthew Watson, Kade Simpson?
C Dale Thomas, Bryce Gibbs, Brock McLean ?
HF Jeff Garlett, Lachie Henderson, Andrew Carrazzo (inj)?
F Chris Yarran, Jarrad Waite, Troy Menzel?
R Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd (inj), Marc Murphy?
INT Mitch Robinson, Robert Warnock, Ed Curnow?
SUB Dylan Buckley
Carlton injury list
Andrew Carrazzo – calf (2 weeks)
Sam Docherty – knee (2 weeks)
Chris Judd – Achilles (3 weeks)
