PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley hopes a day off will be enough to help midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper rediscover his best form after a quiet few weeks. 

Powell-Pepper is one of three omissions for the Power for Saturday’s game against West Coast. 

The 20-year-old has been left out of the side after averaging just 12 disposals and 1.67 clearances in the past three weeks.

"Sam is just a little bit out of form," Hinkley said in a press conference on Friday. 

"He's not winning enough ball, he's not winning enough contested ball, he's not winning enough clearances. 

"He's in the team to provide us with clearance and contested ball and his numbers have been down for three weeks in a row, and significantly down. 

"As much as anything, just giving him a day off might be the way to get him back into that form we know he brings." 

Powell-Pepper will not get a game at all this weekend because the Port Adelaide Magpies don’t have a SANFL game due to the split round. 

Defenders Jack Hombsch and Riley Bonner have also been omitted with key defender Dougal Howard returning after missing two games with a broken left hand. 

"No-one plays with a couple of little cracks in your hand at 100 per cent, but he's well enough to play, and that's really important," Hinkley said of Howard. 

"He's had a couple of weeks off and he'll have some support to make sure he can get through the game. 

"I asked him that yesterday, are you right to play? 'Absolutely right to play, ready to go'." 

Small forward Sam Gray has been recalled after 40 disposals in the SANFL last weekend, while Aidyn Johnson also comes back in to bring pressure to the forward half. 

“Tackle, pressure, hunt – it’s really simple for AJ. Anything extra than that is a bonus,” Hinkley said. 

“If he gets opportunities with the ball and kicks a goal or two that’s a bonus. 

“We want him in the side to hunt and pressure teams - that’s what we think he brings. 

“He’s got exceptional top-end speed to get after opposition players.” 

The Power has lost five of its past six games against the Eagles and another defeat would leave Hinkley’s side in danger of slipping out of the top eight. 

“They’re really good at controlling possession when they get it,” Hinkley said of the Eagles. 

“They take lots of marks, they’re a real challenge for any team in the competition. 

“They’re a great team, they’re built from defence and away they go. 

Hinkley said denying the Eagles' defence the opportunity to pick off the Power's attacking raids will be crucial in the result. 

He said his side had done a good job of that when the teams met in Perth in Round 7 but had still lost badly. 

"They're known for that against everyone in the competition," Hinkley said. 

"There's a battle between breaking that down and getting the results we want. 

"We'll always try and get something a bit different if it's not working because it'd be foolish to stay in the same space."

More on portadelaidefc.com.au...