PORT ADELAIDE’s coaches will have their work cut out for them to decide on which players will make the cut for Round 1 after the club’s three pre-season hit-outs.

The intraclub match, practice game against the Gold Coast and AAMI Community Series match against the Crows have seen plenty of players pushing their claim for selection.

Already there appears a jostle for positions in the backline, in particular among the tall defenders, while Charlie Dixon’s return from injury will give the coaches selection headaches in the forward line as well.

Speaking on Adelaide radio station SEN SA on Monday morning, General Manager – Football, Chris Davies said the selection debate would cover all three lines.

“We’ve had four tall defenders competing,” Davies said of the pre-season. The reality is (defence coach) Chad (Cornes) probably only wants to play three when Round 1 comes.

“We’ve got three tall forwards at the moment who are playing. The reality is that when Charlie comes back, one of those guys will probably miss, so there’s a bit of competition for spots.

“I think our challenge is, as much as anything, with the guys going through the midfield is what position they’re going to play when they’re not in the midfield and how can they impact the game.

“It’s fine for us to have more guys going through that area but you’ve got to be able to play somewhere else on the field when others are looking to go through.

“That’s our challenge. To get a bit more out of the guys when they go forward – whether it be Trav (Boak), Ollie (Wines) – they’re going to have to impact there.”

Port Adelaide was disappointing against the Suns and slow to get its game going against the Crows before running over the top and winning by 37 points on Saturday.

Davies said the Power had let Adelaide score too easily at times and there were other areas of the game that needed improvement.

But he said it was good to see players like Connor Rozee and Zak Butters finding form at Richmond Oval and there were pleasing efforts also from players who can run, carry and deliver the ball like Ryan Burton, Riley Bonner and Dan Houston.

“It was nice to see some of those guys get their hands on the ball but we probably would have liked to see a few more get their hands on it,” Davies explained.

“For Connor specifically, Zak Butters who has played well in both (pre-season) games, Ollie has got to tidy up his disposal a bit but he got his hands on the ball and it was nice to see Burto (Ryan Burton), and Bonner and Houston get their hands on it because they’re going to be key for us.

“If we’re going to compete again, we’re going to need those guys to take their game to another level.”

Davies said Dixon continued to edge closer to a return following ankle surgery and there was positive news for fellow forward Robbie Gray, who sat out the last three quarters of the win over the Crows after minor hamstring awareness in the first term.

A scan on Sunday showed no muscle injury and the 33-year-old is likely to be available for selection to face Brisbane in Round 1.

“(Robbie) felt some soreness in his hamstring and we just thought there was no real reason (for him to play on),” Davies explained.

“He hasn’t missed a beat the whole pre-season so for him to miss the rest of the game wasn’t a bad thing and he’s looking like he’s going to be ready for Round 1, which is good for our club.”