Ken Hinkley says his side is focussed on continuing its momentum into the finals.

THIS time, Port Adelaide will play two ruckmen - Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams - against the Western Bulldogs in Friday Night Football at the Melbourne Docklands. Last time, Lycett was under suspension - and key forward Charlie Dixon carried the second-ruck burden.

"At the moment," said Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley at training at Alberton on Thursday morning, "we are happy to have two rucks in the side. And I suspect they will bring Stefan Martin (back to the AFL line-up)."

Last time, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley preferred key defender Tom Clurey over Trent McKenzie - and lost Clurey in battle with a broken cheekbone. This time, McKenzie gets the nod after proving his fitness after sitting out the Carlton clash with hamstring tightness.

Last time, Steven Motlop and Orazio Fantasia tested the Western Bulldogs defence at Adelaide Oval. This time, Motlop returns to line-up (after recovering from an ankle injury and a one-game warm-up in the SANFL) while Fantasia sits out with concern for hamstring tightness.

"Again," said Hinkley, "it is very similar to Trent last week. It is an unnecessary risk to take at this stage (with Fantasia). I am confident it is just a week ... scans give us confidence he is okay. At training yesterday, Orazio - like Trent the week before - didn't quite feel free enough to run and we took that risk away."

Last time, injury denied Port Adelaide the midfield drive of Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma. This time, this duo returns to add to the rotations that will be so critical in duels with Western Bulldogs playmakers Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and the ball-drawing Jack Macrae.

This time, Port Adelaide is working four tall forwards - Ladhams, Charlie Dixon, Rising Star nominee Mitch Georgiades and the in-form Todd Marshall.

Trent McKenzie returns to Port Adelaide's line-up after overcoming a minor hamstring complaint.

It is a different Port Adelaide by personnel and form - and there is, at least externally, the need for a different result to reverse the 19-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in mid-May.

A win ensures Port Adelaide a top-two finish and a home qualifying final - and an end to the barbs of Port Adelaide entering the top-eight final series without a win against a top-four rival.

"(If we lose) it will mean we have to get better," Hinkley said. "It is as simple as that. It will mean we have to get better.

"I get it (the top-four question). Everyone has every right to throw that and talk about that. We can't deny that. But we will be doing everything we can to stop it, but more importantly we will be doing everything we can to continue to build momentum going into the finals."

Selection on Thursday evening will confirm the recalls of McKenzie and Motlop for Clurey and Fantasia.

"We want to play at our best - and to do that we have to pick the best side to play against the Bulldogs," Hinkley said. "That is exactly what we will do (at selection with a match 23). 

"We will be going as hard as we can possibly go - and give ourselves the best chance to qualifying as high as we can. That is the opportunity in front of us at round 23 (the end of the home-and-away series)."

There is no question Port Adelaide has better form since the May 15 loss to the Western Bulldogs.

"We are in pretty good form, solid form," said Hinkley of the team with the best AFL record since the mid-season bye. "We have some personnel in the team who are certainly different. 

"You clearly get better - every week you have opportunities to improve. We are, hopefully, playing better football than we were at that stage (in round 9). And I am sure the Western Bulldogs would be hoping they are doing the same.

"We get tested every week. This is no different. 

"We are about to get tested fully (in finals). We will be tested to see if we can graduate to a level we feel confident we can perform at. The body of work we have delivered would suggest that we still have to pass the test (from being good to great).

"We think we are going and building in the right direction. Proof is in the pudding.

"That game (last time) started pretty poorly for us, albeit it was in the last five to six minutes of the first quarter when the Bulldogs put on four or five goals on us in a hurry," recalled Hinkley. "Everyone is talking about the quality of their midfield - and the microscope has been put on them for not getting it done at the level they were. But we know how good and talented they are. 

"We still have to be able to match it around the midfield; we have to be able to push them and test them when we get the ball in our half. And we have to clearly stand up when it is coming the other way."

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Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs do have contrasting styles. In the simplest analysis, the Western Bulldogs are noted for handball; Port Adelaide for a forward-half game.

"Lots of teams play slightly different football in slightly different ways, but we think the way we play and the way we defend or attack gives us an opportunity to win against all styles of football," Hinkley said. "There is always a little tinker you have to make against different teams, but more often than not you back in what you have to do.

"And that is what we will do again."

Port Adelaide is in control of its destiny with a win locking the team to at least two home finals at Adelaide Oval, COVID-19 protocols permitting as usual.

"I have no doubt the players understand what the outcome looks like," Hinkley said. "Win the game, we qualify for home finals; we set out at the start of the year to finish as high as possible and we now have a chance to improve on where we sit currently (third, to possibly first or second)."