SANFL coach Matthew Lokan says the game will be won and lost in the midfield, noting the Eagles are quickly able to dictate the game through that area. Image: Brandon Hancock.

PORT ADELAIDE will welcome back some tall timber as it prepares to tackle Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Ruckman Sam Hayes will return following a stint isolating under the health and safety protocols alongside tall defender Sam Skinner, while fellow ruck Scott Lycett will play his first game since a shoulder reconstruction nearly three months ago.

The Magpies will be looking to improve on their result against the Eagles earlier this year, when they led at half-time before falling at Alberton.

The reigning premier will give a debut to Connor McLeod, the son of Port Adelaide premiership player Andrew McLeod, and have former Crow and Brisbane Lion Cam Ellis-Yolmen back at the club this week.

Magpies coach Matthew Lokan says there will be a lot of quality to look out for.

Port to unleash father-son prospect against Woodville West-Torrens

“They're a side with a bit of fluctuating form this year,” he said.

“Over the last few years, they've been at the top of the ladder and won a couple of premierships but their form has been a little bit inconsistent.

“But they've got a quality midfield and if we allow them to get on top, they can really cut you apart.

“Riley Knight is in really good form, Jarrad Redden is a quality ruck and it looks like they're going to play Seb Guilhaus as well.

“We need to make sure that the ball is won and lost around the midfield.

“We obviously got severely beaten in that area last week and we need to make sure that we rectify it this week.”

The Magpies are on a three-game losing streak and Lokan lamented the performances over the past month.

“We know that our performances haven't been to the level that we would like them to be over the last probably month now,” he said.

“It's just about trying to be more consistent for longer and making sure our young team develops to be able to become good four-quarter league players.

“If we're able to do that, we give ourselves a chance to be competitive.”

The Magpies were significantly undersized in last week’s loss to North Adelaide, but Lokan is eager to welcome back two rucks and a key defender.

The Magpies welcome back Sam Hayes after the ruckman spent a week on the sidelines under health and safety protocols. Image: Brandon Hancock.

“It's nice to get some tall guys back with Hayes and Lycett playing and Sam Skinner in the back line,” he said.

“To have some taller guys back into the team makes a bit of a difference.

“We'll still give plenty of opportunities to our younger guys to be able to play through the midfield, which is good for them.”

Among the younger guys in the side this week is debutant Harper Montgomery, the son of 2004 AFL premiership player Brett Montgomery.

The younger Montgomery plays with North Adelaide’s under 18 side off half back but has been given permission to play with Port over the next couple of weeks under a ruling by the AFL and SANFL for father-son and NGA eligible players.

The first bounce at Woodville Oval is at 2.10pm.