PORT ADELAIDE SANFL Coach Matthew Lokan says he hopes the return of forward Lindsay Thomas will coincide with a more consistent performance from his side.

Thomas will on Saturday play his first game for the Magpies since Round 3, coincidentally the last time his side played a game without being beaten.

The Magpies won their first two games of the season and drew with the Eagles in Round 3 with Thomas scoring a late behind to tie the scores.

The 30-year-old was rewarded with his Port Adelaide AFL debut in round 5 against Geelong but was involved in an incident which saw him suspended for four matches.

He is among four big inclusions for the Magpies this week with fellow forward Todd Marshall back from compassionate leave, and Karl Amon and Dom Barry included to provide some run.

“Lindsay’s looking great,” said Lokan, full of praise over Thomas’ attitude during his suspension.

“He’s sort of done a mini pre-season over the last month and he’s dropped a little bit of weight and he looks really fit.

“I know he’s not only keen to get out there and play good footy but he’s a fantastic leader for our group.

“He communicates really well for our young group so he’ll be really important for us.”

The Magpies booted 33 goals in their opening two rounds but have found scoring harder since with 33 goals in their next four games.

Thomas has eight majors in two outings and his nous around goal will be important when Port Adelaide hosts North Adelaide at Alberton on Sunday.

The top of the table Roosters were surprisingly beaten by South Adelaide last week, after impressive wins over Norwood, Sturt and the Eagles.

“I think besides the weekend, North have probably been the most in-form team in the competition,” Lokan said.

“I think their consistency across the ground and their ability to be able to beat those top-end teams has been consistent as well.

“The contest starts in the middle of the ground and we need to be on our game on the weekend.

“It’s a really even SANFL season and any side can beat another on their day”.”

Lokan said South Adelaide had provided a template for how to beat Josh Carr’s side.

He also admitted to being impressed by the Roosters’ turnaround from the bottom of the table last season to ladder-leaders this year.

“The weekend’s game against South, the Panthers put them under a lot of pressure and probably made them turn the ball over a bit in the back half so we know we’re in for a tough contest on Saturday,” Lokan said.

“I think the secret for us is being able to concentrate on what we’re there to do and be consistent in our effort after being a bit up and down and a bit patchy in games so to bring four quarters of effort will serve us well.

“It’s been a while now since we won and for us, it’s important to get some consistency in our performance.

“We have had a really young group which has probably led to that consistency being a bit up and down so to get some experience back with Todd Marshall and Lindsay Thomas in the forward line and Karl Amon and Dom Barry to play through the midfield will be important to hopefully improve that consistency.”

The game will mark the 50th in the SANFL for Power-listed rookie Will Snelling, who has become a key part of the Magpies midfield since moving across from West Adelaide.

“He’s really important for us,” Lokan said of the 20-year-old.

“He works hard to win possession and I think his defensive stuff sets the tone for the rest of the team.

“50 games is a good milestone but I don’t think he’ll be focussing on that too much on the weekend.

“He knows we just need to get a win and whether that’s Will’s first game or his 50th he knows the importance of the result.”

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