PORT ADELAIDE coach Matthew Lokan has identified limiting the effectiveness of South Adelaide’s midfield on Saturday as key to securing a vital SANFL win.

The Magpies go into the Round 16 game still a mathematical chance of playing finals despite losing their last four games.

The Panthers are currently in the top five and beat early-season ladder leaders North Adelaide last week.

Much of their success, according to Lokan, is down to dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross and the midfield around him.

“We’ll certainly make someone accountable for him,” Lokan told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“I don’t know that we’ll employ a tag but we’ll make sure that someone is accountable for him.

“Will Snelling did a really good job on him last time so we’ll look for something similar from him on Saturday.”

Port Adelaide has regained some key midfield personnel after injuries and AFL call-ups left the side a bit short in recent weeks.

“We get Levi Proude back as well after a game last week in the reserves so he’ll certainly add to our midfield,” Lokan revealed.

“Jack Trengove and Joe Atley come back in as well with Levi so we’re certainly a little bit stronger through the middle of the ground and we’ll need to be to match South in that department because their midfield is certainly one of their strengths.”

The Magpies have not been able to boot more than nine goals in their last four games, since beating reigning premiers Sturt in Round 11.

They face the challenge of being without their leading goal scorer of the season Kane Farrell after he was named to debut for the Power in Ballarat on Sunday.

The Magpies also come up against a Panthers side with the second stingiest defence in the competition.

In a boost, Port’s goal scoring will be boosted by the return of veteran forward Lindsay Thomas after his omission from the AFL side.

Thomas has booted 17 goals from five SANFL games this season.

“The last couple of weeks we struggled to kick a big enough score so to be able to have Lindsay back in the team will certainly help in that department,” Lokan said.

“He’ll give us a real focal point in that forward line.”

Against Glenelg last week, the Magpies found themselves without any key defenders after Jarrod Lienert received his maiden AFL callup.

This week they also regain the services of Trent McKenzie who will provide experience, calmness and leadership along with his booming left foot.

“Trent in the backline will help us with out height and our ability to shut down South’s forward line,” Lokan said.

“I think they’ve got a pretty good mix between their talls and smalls in their forward half of the ground and they’re obviously a really good stoppage midfield.

“We need to be on our game and it’s another really big test for our guys.”

The Magpies face the Panthers from 2:20pm at Alberton Oval.

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