PORT ADELAIDE'S new-look attack is to stay for the home opener against Hawthorn in Saturday night's tribute to club great Russell Ebert at Adelaide Oval.

Fifty-four years after Ebert made his SANFL league start as a match-winning forward to cover the absence of Eric Freeman while he toured with the Australian cricket team, Port Adelaide will ask even more of Jeremy Finlayson, Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall while injury denies senior coach Ken Hinkley the experience of Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray and Orazio Fantasia.

"There is a bit of experience missing there," Hinkley said at Adelaide Oval before the captain's run on Friday morning. Dixon, Gray and Fantasia have a combined AFL count of 528 games and 786 goals.

"And (without them) there definitely has been a challenge getting a score on the board. 

"But it also is a great opportunity for players who are developing their game and looking to improve and build as a group. That is real for us. Todd, Mitch and Jeremy have had just a couple of games together - and they will get better together."

After an impressive launch of the new trio in attack against Adelaide in the pre-season closer, the Finlayson-Georgiades-Marshall managed just two goals of Port Adelaide's 10 in the 11-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Injuries to key defenders brought the early prospect of reassigning Finlayson or Marshall to the back half - a theme pushed aside at selection on Thursday. The second workout of the new attack will bring more analysis of how Port Adelaide copes without having All-Australian Dixon as the key focal point in attack.

"They are not Charlie Dixon, but they have to play the role we expect of our tall forwards," Hinkley said. "We have a game style we like to play. Those forwards are expected to play their roles - and they are encouraged to compete as much as they can."

To avert another refit of the attack, Port Adelaide introduces two new faces for roles in defence - former Brisbane key position player Sam Skinner and recent top draftee Josh Sinn.

Both have earned their call up by strong pre-season form and not just by necessity from injury.

"Sam has really earned it, he has certainly earned it," Hinkley said of the former Brisbane player who has worked his way back to AFL ranks after enduring three knee reconstructions. "He was in the mix last week. His whole pre-season has been really solid. We were keen to see him play early on - and there was not that chance. 

"His intercept marking. His ability to go fearlessly at the ball is really high level. And it is a great story to come back by moving to South Australia, playing at (SANFL club) South Adelaide and to be recognised (as an AFL prospect again)."

While Skinner's role is clearly defined against Hawthorn, teenager Sinn makes his AFL debut with his versatility standing out as a key gain on the team whiteboard should tactical changes be forced on Hinkley's match staff.

"That flexibility is really important for us," said Hinkley of the 2021 No. 12 draftee. "Last week we saw how you never know when you may need someone (to cover a gap created by injury). Josh is another great story - another reflection of the recruiting and drafting of our football club and development.

"We are really excited by what Josh will bring - he can play inside, he can play outside, he can play both ends of the ground. He does bring great flexibility.

"And it is a significant moment for any young Port Adelaide player to have his first game at our home at Adelaide Oval. First game in front of the faithful ... it is a big day."

Just two changes to the Port Adelaide line-up is a contrast to the grim image presented in Port Adelaide's crowded medical rooms at the Gabba on Saturday night. The club's fitness team has cleared wingman Xavier Duursma (collarbone) and key defender Trent McKenzie (knee) for action but sidelined key defender Aliir Aliir (ankle) and experienced forward Robbie Gray (knee).

"Clearly, we still have two big players out in Gray and Aliir," Hinkley said. 

McKenzie's availability after hyperextending his left knee in a marking contest - and being taken off the field on a stretcher - is a major relief for defence coach Chad Cornes while his tall options are without All-Australian Aliir and Tom Clurey (knee).

"You think the absolute worst when (the injury) happens, but Trent was lucky," Hinkley said. 

Port Adelaide will pay its respects to Ebert with Duursma vacating the No.7 jumper to wear No.50 (as a tribute to his father Dean who was on the Melbourne and Sydney playing lists during the 1980s). 

The sense of responsibility to honour Ebert is well understood by a player group that knew the six-time club champion as a respected comrade at Alberton.

"All our players, except the most recent arrivals, were introduced to Russell Ebert - and know he is the greatest player to play for Port Adelaide," Hinkley said. "The No.7 (which will be worn on the front of every jumper this weekend) has real meaning for us as a football club. Our players won't miss (understanding the significance of the night).

"We want to show great respect to Russell and his family."

Not in question is Port Adelaide needing to find the spirit to honour Ebert. This was not lacking in the clash with Brisbane.

"It was a really good example of what I expect from our football team," Hinkley said. "This game is tough and hard. And it is brutal. You don't always get the win - but you have to be able to hold your head up. We had an opportunity to win that game last week - and against the best you have to play right to the end.

"If we play like that consistently, we will be okay."

Dixon, who had ankle surgery during the summer, will not play any competitive match this weekend. Gray is expected to miss just one game. Aliir will be on the sidelines for at least a month.

Of Dixon, Hinkley said: "He has trained all week which is a positive. We are not going to take a risk; he is a combative player, so he has to be right to play otherwise it is unfair on him and us."