PORT Adelaide is expected to be boosted by the return of skipper Dom Cassisi, while Essendon have upgraded a rookie ahead of the Round 16 clash.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au takes a look at who’s in the mix for both sides ahead of Saturday’s game at AAMI Stadium.
What changes do you think should be made? Have your say at the bottom of the article
Port Adelaide
Cassisi has missed the past two games with a hip injury but seems likely to return to lead the side against the Bombers.
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His return would provide another boost to the club’s leadership stocks following the successful return of Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove from injury.
The Power will also welcome back Matt Thomas who has served his two-week suspension for rough conduct against the Western Bulldogs’ Tom Liberatore.
The Power hard-man is likely to go back into his defensive forward role, held well by Paul Stewart over the past two weeks, with Stewart likely to split his time between the forward line and midfield.
David Rodan will face a fitness test at training tomorrow if he’s to prove he’s over the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Showdown. Rodan’s return would be timely boost for the Power midfield, which was soundly beaten at stoppages against the Crows.
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Jackson Trengove and Matthew Broadbent have both stated this week they believe the Power will play a second ruckman this weekend to support Matthew Lobbe, but just which ruckman will return remains uncertain.
The Power could opt for forward/ruck Daniel Stewart to bolster not only the rucks, but also add height to our forward line.
Brent Renouf, who missed the Showdown with a knee complaint, and Jarrad Redden will battle it out with Stewart for that second ruck spot, should the match committee choose to go down that path.
Consistent SANFL performers Nathan Blee, Daniel Webb and Simon Phillips will continue to stake their claim for AFL selection and are all in the mix for the latter part of the season.
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The 58-point loss to the Crows could see several players come under the microscope at the selection table - don’t be surprised to see several changes come Thursday evening.
Essendon
The Bombers were dealt two big blows in Round 15, with Heath Hocking’s suspension and Michael Hurley’s injury.
They’ll join the Stewart Crameri (suspended), Angus Monfries (hamstring), David Zaharakis (quad) and Brent Prismall (hamstring) on the sidelines in Round 16.
The Bombers are set to fill one of the spots with rookie Mark Baguley, who was upgraded to the senior list today.
The strongly-built defender has been one of the standouts for Essendon’s VFL affiliate, Bendigo.
Essendon have also mooted the possibility of playing a third ruckman, with Tom Bellchambers the likely third tall after a best on ground effort for Bendigo in the VFL.
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Scott Gumbleton is also in line to return to the senior side to fill the void left by Crameri and Hurley. The injury-plagued 23-year-old moved well in Bendigo’s win over Ballarat and would be a like-for-like replacement for Hurley.
Hocking's replacement is likely to come from a group including Alex Browne, Elliott Kavanagh and Travis Colyer
Injury Lists
Port Adelaide
Mitch Banner, knee - test
Dom Cassisi, hip - test
Robbie Gray, knee - season
Hamish Hartlett, hamstring - 2 weeks
Cam Hitchcock, hamstring - 1-2 weeks
Cam O’Shea, foot stress fracture - 6-8 weeks
Brent Renouf, knee - test
David Rodan, hamstring - test
Steven Salopek, knee - test
Jay Schulz, abdomen - 6 weeks
Essendon
Angus Monfries, hamstring - 2 weeks
Michael Hurley, hamstring - 3 weeks
David Zaharakis, quad - 3-4 weeks
Bren Prismall, hamstring - ongoing assessment
