Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston marked game No.77 of his AFL career 11 months ago with his first preliminary final - and the inevitable comparison with the preparation for the next preliminary final is answered on a much stronger base at Alberton.

As Port Adelaide prepares for Saturday night's home battle with the Western Bulldogs, the preliminary final is no longer an adventure into the unknown for Houston and many of his team-mates.

And it is not just the experience of last year's six-point loss to eventual AFL premier Richmond that has Port Adelaide better primed for another preliminary final.

"We have a better version of ourselves," Houston said at Alberton on Tuesday. "We have taken a leap forward in our game. And leaps forward as people. We are ready to put ourselves back out there - and know we are in a better position to embrace what comes at us this time.

"We are a little bit more relaxed. And we are ready to get into a prelim ... it is definitely helping us knowing we have been in this position before and we know what to expect.

"We know about the unknown (of a preliminary final) - the crowd, how much the game means. You don't really understand that until you play it. This time we know exactly what it means."

The pain of a narrow loss in a preliminary final does not wash away easily nor quickly.

"During the week we have gone back through last year and talked about what we could have improved," Houston said of an experience Port Adelaide will not waste. "We thought our composure during the game hurt us a little bit. We will be looking to use what we learned from last year - all the little things - to be a better team this time.

"It is a big game (the preliminary final)," added Houston of the match Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett on Monday described as the "scariest" for a player.

"There is high pressure. But we feel we are a strong, connected group that does the little things really well and that is what it will come down to at the weekend.

"We feel like we have taken a step forward from last year.

"I can see (Bassett's point). It is the game that leads to a grand final - and you do not want to put yourself in a bad position. You need to play well. You don't want to get too far ahead, so you control what you can - train really well and do all the little things to make sure I am ticking every single little box to play well. 

"You want to dream (of a grand final), but you don't want to be complacent either. You don't want to think too far ahead and take your eyes off the game. You want to be in the moment and stay in the moment for as long as you can.

"It is a bit daunting, but with fear also comes bravery ... and we feel we are building towards being brave."

Houston, 24, marks his 100-game milestone - after coming off the rookie list at the end of 2016 - in a preliminary final that conveniently takes some limelight off his personal achievement.

"It is sort of good because it takes the focus away from me and more towards the team which is good," Houston said. "I'm really looking forward to getting into the preliminary final and putting my best foot forward this week."

Many have noted Houston's best foot is the right that delivers with pinpoint accuracy to his team-mates, particularly across the danger zone between half-forward and centre. This might just settle the debate on where best to place Houston in the team grid.

"At the moment, with the team that we have, my attribute of kicking and running off half-back makes me playing in defence the best option," Houston said. "If there are injuries, I am able to go through the midfield. But my best position at the moment is in defence."

That defensive unit this week might face the prospect of dealing with a Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli as a forward rather than as a midfielder while the AFL superstar manages a knee injury suffered late during the one-point win against Brisbane in Saturday night's semi-final at the Gabba.

Houston revealed the defensive match-ups are deepening with Ryan Burton seeking to join captain Tom Jonas and full back Trent McKenzie in dealing with challenging one-on-one assignments.

"If 'Bont' plays forward it might be Tom Jonas or Trent McKenzie, and Ryan Burton has put his name forward in the past few weeks to play on a dangerous forward," Houston said.

Port Adelaide's training session at Alberton Oval on Tuesday was noted for the managed workloads on specialist forwards Robbie Gray and Orazio Fantasia, both of whom have needed knee surgery during the second half of the season. Fantasia was subbed out the qualifying final win against Geelong at Adelaide Oval a fortnight ago.

"Today we had a bit of a managed day," Houston said. "Orazio and Robbie did not train (on the oval) but they will be ready to train on Thursday (at Adelaide Oval).

"No doubt at all. They will be ready on Thursday."

The biggest question to be answered after training on Thursday is Port Adelaide's line-up for the preliminary final - unchanged, four tall forwards with the recall of Rising Star-nominated Mitch Georgiades or a surprise so far not seen while senior coach Ken Hinkley is blessed with options at match committee?

"It is a tough one," Houston acknowledged. "The boys had a good hit-out at the weekend in the SANFL - Mitch, Sam Powell-Pepper, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Clurey ... They will be pushing their names for selection and we are very lucky we have those options."

The man who has loaded up many Port Adelaide forwards with his precise kicking was quite sharp in answering if he prefers to see four or three tall targets inside-50: "You usually kick it to one at a time ...

"It is good having four talls and we also play very well when we have three talls (Charlie  Dixon, Todd Marshall and ruckman Peter Ladhams). And at their feet there are such good players who can hit the scoreboard as well.

"We have a variety of options. 

"(The right mix) depends on who you are playing. Against Geelong, we showed having the smaller forward line worked well. And at other times we have seen games where Ladhams, Mitch, Todd and Charlie can all hit the scoreboard as well. That is why it is tough at selection.

"Everyone wants to play this week. There are players in their first preliminary final. We all know it is a tight selection. It is a good spot to be in. Some will be disappointed (in missing the match 23) on Thursday. And some will be excited."

Port Adelaide plays the Western Bulldogs within a month of beating the Victorian rival in the round 23 play-off for a top-two finish to the home-and-away series.

"That game still has a bit of relevance," Houston said of the two-point win at the Melbourne Docklands. "We are still the same side. And they will be looking to do similar things.

"I thought the scoreboard (9.12 to 10.4) did not reflect how we played. It was a lot closer on the scoreboard than what we felt while we were pretty dominant. We will try to play the same and, hopefully, kick straighter."

Houston's rise to a regular AFL spot - and his 100-game milestone - after being pick No. 45 in the 2016 rookie draft is worth holding with pride.

"You think every now and then of where you came from, as a late rookie pick, and where you are now, playing my 100th game, and note how quick it has come around," Houston said. "That does surprise you a bit. I feel like I have worked very hard to get to this point and have made my own luck."