PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley says the form of Peter Ladhams was too good to ignore, selecting the big ruckman for his third game at AFL level this season.

Ladhams will line-up against Essendon on Saturday afternoon, after dominating for Port in the SANFL with 22 touches, 21 hit-outs, seven clearances and three goals in the Magpies’ 28-point victory over South Adelaide on the weekend.

Hinkley says he couldn’t go past the big man this week, and admitted Scott Lycett’s omission from the team to play the Bombers came after the former West Coast player had been slightly down on his input in the past fortnight.

“Pete can’t be doing any more. He’s been killing it at Magpies level,” Hinkley said at a press conference on Friday morning at Alberton.

“I think everyone would appreciate his last game was quite special, and Scott’s form has been ok but there comes a time when the replacement has got to get a chance.

“I think we’ve done that pretty well all year, we’ve rewarded pretty consistent form below.”

The senior coach says Ladhams will take the majority of the ruck duties against the Bombers, but is happy with the side’s flexibility with a number of talls at his disposal.

“(Pete) will play a lot of ruck time,” Hinkley said.

“He has been selected as a replacement for Scott - who has typically played 60-70 per cent in the ruck - and that’s what we expect from Pete.

“We have also got Paddy in the side who can go and play in the ruck as well, and we often use Paddy a little differently, even with Scott in the side.”

The Power has also included Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall for Saturday’s crunch clash, in an attempt to change the forward mix.

Port hasn’t been able to kick a winning score over the last three weeks, and Hinkley says the club is looking at options to allow it to hit the scoreboard more.

“That’s one of the challenges,” he said.

“We are trying to find how we can get the opportunity to score a little bit better. Some of the decision we have made this week (at selection) are around that.

“We are doing our absolute best we can to give ourselves a chance (to score). It would be foolish to sit there and say we are getting it right and not do anything about it.

“We are continually making some movement in that area to try and fix it.”

The Power faces the Bombers at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the first bounce at 1.45pm AEST.