MATTHEW Lobbe will not play against the GWS Giants on Saturday.
Instead, his form-based omission will see him run out in the club's SANFL jumper against Glenelg on Friday night.
Port Adelaide's senior coach Ken Hinkley told FIVEaa the Power's vice-captain wouldn't play AFL this weekend.
"Lobbes' form is down...to the point that Lobbes won't play this week.
"That's another significant decision that we've had to make."
Hinkley said the decision to drop a key leadership player wasn't an easy one for the Power's selection committee to make, with Matt Broadbent, Tom Jonas and Angus Monfries having been omitted earlier this year on the basis of form.
But Hinkley said while the importance of maintaining faith with players is part of the modern game, there is eventually a point where a player may need a "mental spell".
"We've dropped Broady, we've dropped Tommy Jonas, we've dropped Gus, so we've made some significant decisions at selections with some of our more experienced players, players we can't afford to have out of form," Hinkley said.
"You don't make those decisions in a week, you sit in there and hope for those boys and hope they can deliver some form.
"But eventually there is a tipping point, and we've reached that a few times with those boys, but that's a reflection on why the side is where it is."
The final Port Adelaide AFL, SANFL League and Academy teams will be revealed at 5:55pm on Thursday night.