PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley wants to see height - and speed - test the West Coast defence.

West Coast premiership mentor Adam Simpson certainly will have his own tall timber to put against the new-look Port Adelaide defence that will again appreciate the intercept prowess of Sydney recruit Aliir Aliir.

Hinkley on Friday declared his confidence in pairing both Todd Marshall (198cm) and Mitch Georgiades (192cm) alongside All-Australian key forward Charlie Dixon (200cm) in Saturday night's clash with West Coast at Perth Stadium.

Simpson has the triple-tandem of Josh Kennedy (196cm), Jack Darling (191cm) and Oscar Allen (194cm).

And with Port Adelaide succeeding with two ruckmen - Scott Lycett (203cm) and Peter Ladhams (202cm) - this Round 3 clash might draw the stage theme of a battle in the "Land of the Giants".

"We have to be ready to take care for what the talls bring for us, but we also have to have an eye on what that might cost us," Hinkley said. "And we have done that (study) pretty closely."

Marshall (sore back) resumes after missing the 54-point win against Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Saturday when Georgiades kicked four goals.

"They will (both) play ... and the major question is can they play together?" Hinkley said at Alberton before the captain's run session on Friday night. "We are about to find out.

"They will certainly play. 

"What I do like about both boys is they are significant players on the ground. They are not just tall marking players. Mitch is learning his craft daily, almost hour by hour. He is getting better in all parts of his game. He has an incredible set on wheels - no-one in our side bar Karl Amon can run any better than Georgiades.

"So we don't lose any run, we don't lose any effort ... he is just learning when to use it and how to use it.

"Marshall is the same.

"They are both very creative players for us. They keep us quick. 

"We have been wanting to have a look at it (the Marshall-Georgiades tandem) and we have not had the chance because Todd had a (cheek) injury in the pre-season. I am confident they can work together; I am confident that good marking players who work defensively and at the contest for us can stay in the side.

"I have no fear of that ... now the proof will be in the pudding.

"The challenge for us now is to make that work. And it is an enormous challenge already playing West Coast; we need two rucks (Lycett and Ladhams) to play against Nic Naitanui - as good a ruckman as you will come across in this game."

Port Adelaide's line-up will be announced on Friday evening with wingman Kane Farrell and last weekend's medical substitute Tom Rockliff already out of contention by their playing in the SANFL season-opener against Norwood at The Parade on Thursday night. Rockliff also is being assessed for concussion.

This SANFL match also featured 2020 draftee Lachie Jones with the half-back making a successful return after being sidelined at the end of the pre-season with a hamstring strain.

Port Adelaide has a late Friday flight to Perth with Hinkley to again decide on the 23rd man medical substitute in the hour before the 7.40pm start.

A confirmed starter - for the first time in the 2021 home-and-away season - is forward-midfielder Connor Rozee, who had foot surgery during the gap between the two pre-season matches against Adelaide and the premiership-season opener.

"I can tell you," Hinkley said, "he won't be the medical sub."

There will be two changes to the 22 who beat Essendon with the return of Rozee and Marshall.

Top-ranked Port Adelaide is seeking its third consecutive win against West Coast after beating the Eagles in the "dirty ball" game in Perth on Good Friday in 2019 and in the COVID-shifted clash at the Gold Coast last season.

"West Coast are one of the great teams in the competition.; we've had some heartbreak against them," said Hinkley with reference to the tight finishes at Adelaide Oval, including the double-extra time elimination final in 2017. "We’ve had some joy against them. 

"We'll go over there with confidence we can beat them and play the way we want to play. They will be as nervous as we are about the opposition ..."