ORAZIO FANTASIA has played only three AFL games at Adelaide Oval, all with Essendon - and all way back in 2016 and 2017. But he still remembers the power of the Port Adelaide fans with the Never Tear Us Apart anthem in the 60 seconds before the first bounce.

"It is pretty daunting being on the opposition; so now being on this side will give some energy to me," said Fantasia of the NTUA opening to Port Adelaide games at Adelaide Oval. He last heard the anthem in Round 3, 2016 - and walked off with a 61-point loss.

"Hearing that from an opposition was loud and you are up against it straight away," added Fantasia. "For me that (anthem) is going to be huge."

And Fantasia will have more energy from his own cheer squad at Adelaide Oval.

"I have always loved playing in front of my family, so that is going to be pretty special," Fantasia said.

Fantasia starts his Port Adelaide odyssey at Adelaide Oval against his former Essendon team-mates - and with some meaningful intel on the Bombers.

"I have a bit of knowledge; I did take notes (while at Essendon)," said Fantasia. "I have a few things, but I am not sure if they have changed (under new coach Ben Rutten). I did watch them on the weekend ... and they did look pretty good (in the one-point loss to Hawthorn)."

Fantasia on Sunday - in the 52-point win against North Melbourne at the Docklands - played his first AFL game since Round 7 last season. His return to full fitness after repetitive soft-tissue injuries is just as much about his mental state as his physical preparation.

"It is just being home with my family," said Fantasia who is appreciating the home cooking of his mother. "For me, a big stress-head, being back (home) and Mum having some dinner cooked and stuff like that takes the pressure off.

"To see my family and friends, that has been massive. Just relieving that stress, sleeping better and recovering better and my body is in such a good position from that."

Port Adelaide players and staff speak highly of Fantasia's professionalism.

"It always has been there," Fantasia said. "Ever since I was a junior I have never been the biggest or the strongest or anything like that. But my work ethic was the one thing that was different to everyone else."

Nerves struck on Sunday when Fantasia carried the No.13 Port Adelaide jumper; he also wore 13 at Essendon.

"I was definitely nervous," said Fantasia. "New club and a new system and wanting to play with some new people. Getting my body where it needed to be, I was confident I could play well.

"I enjoyed myself," Fantasia added of his club debut. "It was good fun playing footy. I hadn't played footy properly for a while, so I enjoyed getting out there and (we were) lucky enough to get a win.

"What I bring to the team is not just speed. I talk a lot on the field and get along with my team-mates really well, so if I can help my team-mates in any way I feel I can bring that to the weekend."

Fantasia's old team-mates from Tullamarine are now his foes from 4.05pm on Saturday. The well wishes they sent last weekend are unlikely to be repeated while Essendon seeks to avoid a 0-2 win-loss start.

"I am excited, definitely excited," said Fantasia, who was traded for draft pick No.29 during the off-season. "I am sure I will be nervous when it gets close to the game, but I have nothing but love for those (Essendon) guys and it probably will be weird running out against a few of them.

"I'll probably be cheeky and call out for the ball when they have got it ... and try to get into a few of their heads. It will be fun. It doesn't bother me the reception I get; I'm there to play for my new team and to get a win."

Fantasia looms as the long-needed opportunist forward to maximise Port Adelaide's trait of driving repetitive sorties inside the 50-metre forward arc.

"It helps when the ball is coming inside-50, definitely," said Fantasia at Alberton on Tuesday. "The way we move the ball is nice and fast and it helps our forwards out when we can get it in there quickly."

The issue of Fantasia's finishing - 3.3 in half against Adelaide at Noarlunga in a trial game and 4.4 against North Melbourne on Sunday - is a non-issue for the 81-game forward with a career record of 115.81.

"It does not rattle me at all," said Fantasia. "It is fine. It's footy. It happens. It is one game and not an issue."