KEN Hinkley describes Port Adelaide's unbeaten form line and status as the AFL competition leader as "accurate".

Opening with a 52-point away win against lowly rated North Melbourne - after two hefty pre-season wins against 2020 wooden spooner Adelaide - has many experts admiring Port Adelaide's squad for its depth, flexibility and capabilities for complete football.

But the pundits searching for AFL premiership markers want a sterner pressure test on Port Adelaide - a theme certain to unfold against a charged-up Essendon on the rebound this weekend.

"It is accurate for the moment," Hinkley says of Port Adelaide's standing after three big wins in 2021.

"Right now, our form is really strong - and really consistent.

"It's accurate in that it says we are in good form and we're playing very strong football and we're a challenge for the teams we have come up against so far. We understand we did not get every part of every game right - and, always the coach, you're always looking for better.

"And we want to be better."

Port Adelaide hosts Essendon after Ben Rutten's squad has been publicly challenged to change its on-field image.

Former greats, such as Matthew Lloyd on television, have urged Essendon defenders to be tough in their reception of new Port Adelaide goalkicking sensation Orazio Fantasia in his first clash with his former Essendon team-mates. And others, including Collingwood premiership player Mick McGuane in his newspaper column, have baited the Essendon players to lift their standards.

This sets up a hot start from 4.05pm with Port Adelaide needing to avert a repeat of the sluggish opening seen against North Melbourne on Sunday.

"I disregard what is said of Essendon because I focus on our club and what we need to do," Hinkley said. "The opposition this week is Essendon, I get that. But we need to focus clearly on what we do - and our start last week was not where we'd like it to be.

"We have to make sure we are better than that. We need to be ready to go whoever it is we play. This week it is Essendon ... and we will be at our best at home with our members and fans here to cheer the boys on."

Port Adelaide key forward Todd Marshall rested during Friday morning's captain's run at Adelaide Oval. He will be named in the 22-man line-up that will have one forced change - vice-captain Hamish Hartlett replacing injured wingman Riley Bonner.

Bonner left Adelaide Oval on Friday on crutches to ease the pressure on his injured right hamstring.

"It is extra precaution as much as anything; it is nothing more," Hinkley said of Bonner. "It is a nasty hamstring injury - a four-to-six-week injury probably. We are just taking a bit of caution by getting some weight off the leg for the next few days."

Hinkley also was cautious with forward-midfielder Connor Rozee who has fully recovered from recent foot surgery.

"He was too close (to selection)," Hinkley said of Rozee. "I got teased a bit seeing what he could do, but we have made a call based on the recommendation of the surgeon. If Connor was here, he'd asked why is he not being picked to play. We are making decisions based on the long term - one more week to be safe with his wound and try next week."

Port Adelaide is again expected to have experienced midfielder Tom Rockliff among the four emergencies and primed as the 23rd man medical substitute.

"We will make that decision (on Saturday) ... leaving that right up to the last hour," Hinkley said.

Rutten has dismissed making an issue of Fantasia's appearance against his former club -  a gracious theme Hinkley echoed.

"You are nervous because it is a (game) against your former team-mates," Hinkley said of the emotions Fantasia is facing. "Orazio's reasons for leaving Essendon were not about being unhappy with Essendon. It was more about wanting to be home with his family and he has made that quite public. Essendon understand that. I'm sure they will not want him to do well ...

"I don't have to say anything (to the other Port Adelaide players). They will look after him. He is part of us."

Fantasia offered to unwrap his notes from his seven years at Essendon, a treasure that might have diminished value with Rutten's rise to the coaching mantle held by John Worsfold last season.

"Orazio is a very big note taker and he understands the game really well," Hinkley said. "His detail is sharp ... But stuff changes all the time. They have had a coach change with Ben coaching the team in his own right now. They have different (assistant) coaches, so they will be different right away."

Port Adelaide and Essendon will name their match 22s and four emergencies at 5.50pm on Friday.