PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has confirmed he’ll be forced into at least two changes at the selection table with injury to sideline defender Dougal Howard and wingman Karl Amon.

Howard has been ruled out with a hand injury while Hinkley told a press conference on Thursday that he expected Amon to miss at least two weeks with a knee injury.

In a boost to the Power’s chances against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Sunday, All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder is in the frame to return from injury after missing one game.

“He’s recovered from his hip flexor which is the key thing and you’ve seen him training today so there’s not too many issues with him currently,” Hinkley said.

“It’s just a matter of getting through and pulling up ok on Saturday and then playing on Sunday.

“With a hip flexor… you’re just not sure how they recover, some people quite quick, and some people not so.

“Obviously in this case Paddy’s been quite quick for us so far.”

Key defender Tom Jonas is also pushing to return from a knee injury ahead of schedule after impressing at training.

Hinkley said both Jonas and Ryder would have until Saturday to prove their fitness.

“Tommy has progressed a bit quicker than we had thought but he just ran so well late last week and you would have seen him out there today, he’s moving pretty well,” Hinkley said.

“If there’s a significant risk in it we wouldn’t do it but he’ll be on the plane.

“We’re pretty confident that they’ll play, we’re not in the habit of putting out fake news.”

The Power will also likely welcome back Steven Motlop who was a late withdrawal from last Sunday’s game against Greater Western Sydney with illness.

With Ryder not a confirmed starter, Hinkley said the untried Billy Frampton will be considered for his Power debut.

He said not having a designated ruckman in the side last week caused disruption to the team balance.

“If I go back to rounds 1 to 6, both our young ruckmen were a bit off the pace but they’ve progressed enough in the last month or six weeks where we feel like we’re at that stage where we’re disrupting other stuff,” Hinkley said.

“We’d like to probably protect Charlie (Dixon) and (Justin Westhoff) Westy a bit more if we can.

“You’re never quite sure, there’s always some doubt but there’s doubt with any first game player that you put out there.

“We’re hopeful that Billy’s been in the system long enough now that if he gets his chance on Sunday he’ll be able to compete pretty well for us.”

Hinkley also said young forward Kane Farrell was likely to be named in a 26-man squad this evening with the team to be trimmed to 22 tomorrow afternoon.

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