Darcy Byrne-Jones says their upcoming clash with the Hawks could potentially be a great opportunity for some fresh blood to lace up in Aliir Aliir's absence. Image: AFL Photos.

Team selection on Thursday night will carry greater anticipation - and more excitement - than most, particularly with Port Adelaide sizing up potential club debutant Sam Skinner.

Certainly leadership group member Darcy Byrne-Jones will be thrilled if senior coach Ken Hinkley and the match committee tap Skinner for the home opener against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. The club debut would mark Skinner's second chance in AFL football after three games with Brisbane.

Skinner, 24 and a survivor of three knee reconstructions, has made a telling impression on his Port Adelaide team-mates since moving from SANFL club South Adelaide during the off-season.

"Sam is a big man and aggressive in the air," said Byrne-Jones of the 197cm key defender.

"He has had to tone down some of his aggression at training so that the guys don't get hurt. That is the kind of player he is. If he does come into the team, the Hawthorn forwards would be pretty nervous standing under him with high balls, that is for sure."

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Darcy Byrne-Jones press conference - 22 March 2022 | PTV

Darcy Byrne-Jones speaks to the media at Alberton Oval

Skinner is a strong contender to replace All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir who will miss at least a month after ankle surgery on Monday. There also is the question mark on fellow key defender Trent McKenzie, who hyperextended a knee in a marking contest late in the 11-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

"We will have to adapt - and continue to welcome new guys in," Byrne-Jones said at Alberton on Tuesday. "They have all put the work in, so we will be ready to go.

"We will still have a group of five defenders who have played a considerable amount of footy together. So hopefully the guys who do come in can gel really quick and adapt in the way they play to suit our game style.

"When you lose an All-Australian defender of the calibre of Aliir - and potentially Trent McKenzie who has been really solid for us in the past couple of years - there will be some tinkering. We will work on that during the week."

Port Adelaide lost in a season-opener for just the second time in the past decade, but the mood at Alberton remains upbeat.

"There are definitely positives we can take out of that game," Byrne-Jones said. "In the past we have gone to the Gabba and have not been proud of the way we have played. Or the attitude we have had. But on the weekend we are definitely proud of the way we went about it. We were not happy with the result ...

"There was a 10-minute patch in the last quarter that we are not happy with. But overall there definitely are positives that we take out of that game - and confidence for this week's game."

Defender Sam Skinner looks to be in a good position to play his first game for Port Adelaide. Image: Matt Sampson.

Byrne-Jones is in his second year as a team leader and this season has replaced the retired Hamish Hartlett as deputy vice-captain.

"I am enjoying it," the 26-year-old said. "I feel comfortable with the role. (Captain) Tom Jonas and (vice-captain) Ollie Wines have been a great help to me. Tom has helped me work on my leadership skills - the way I give feedback and the way I can help others. It is something I am really enjoying.

"(Of my form) it is just one game," said Byrne-Jones of his 26-disposal performance against Brisbane. "I don't want to get too carried away, but I felt I played with some confidence and I was able to get my hands on the footy. I felt defensively I was solid as well, so that is the most pleasing thing.

"I have not missed many training sessions in the past few years, so I have been able to get some consistency in the way I train and prepare. And a lot of it is between the ears so that I can play with confidence. I am in a really good space."

On the injury front, key forward Charlie Dixon stepped up training with a full session at Alberton on Tuesday.

"He was running around, jumping around so that is a good sign for us," Byrne-Jones said. "Charlie is a really important player - and we are looking forward to getting him back in our group in the next couple of weeks."

The season home-opener against Hawthorn begins at Adelaide Oval at 7.10pm. The match will be a tribute to club legend Russell Ebert who died in November.

"It is a massive event for the club," Byrne-Jones said. "We want to show our respect to Russ for all that he did for the club. We want to welcome his family and his friends to game we will play to honour him. All the players are excited and wanting as many fans to turn up to pay their respect to Russ."