GEMMA Houghton is back. The All-Australian will lead the Port Adelaide attack - just six weeks after ankle surgery - to be a major target against the proven defensive tactics of North Melbourne at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon.

After an impressive week on the training track, Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell on Friday evening will name Houghton - and a new debutante - in her line-up to offer a much-needed answer to the team's scoring issues.

"Anyone who came to training this week saw Gemma moving really well. So, we are pretty excited to say Gemma is playing (on Saturday)," Arnell announced at Alberton on Friday morning.

And confirmation of Houghton's selection has powered Arnell's "Inaugurals" with a new charge of enthusiasm as Port Adelaide seeks to advance to its second win after losing the past three matches to Gold Coast, Adelaide and Hawthorn with little reward for all the goalscoring chances created by an energetic midfield.

"Gemma is one of the best forwards - one of the best players - in the competition, so any team that has Gemma Houghton returning to their side would be super excited," Arnell said. "She brings a whole new vibe, particularly at this time of the season when we have not necessarily got the reward for effort. It has been a really exciting week.

"And I am so pumped for Gemma that she has been able to return so quickly." 

Houghton limped out of Port Adelaide's round two clash with the Western Bulldogs at Alberton to surgery that many - including the Port Adelaide football department - thought (and feared) was to bring an end to her season in a 10-game AFLW home-and-away series.

"Gemma has been amazing in her approach to rehab," added Arnell. "To be honest, when we learned of the extent of the injury, I was pretty worried. Gemma has moved from Fremantle, she was doing so well and had been through the strongest pre-season of the whole group. Injuries like this one can be either a setback or - as Gemma is seeing it - just a lesson. It's part of being more well-rounded in her move to Adelaide. She has taken every opportunity from that - not a negative approach, but a really positive one. That has paid off for her - and we are proud of how she has attacked her rehab. She is ready to play ..."

Houghton's return offers part of the answer to correcting Port Adelaide's 1.10 from last weekend's loss to fellow AFLW newcomer Hawthorn at Frankston.

"One positive out of 1.10 is you are certainly creating a lot of opportunity - and there were opportunities there that I would back the majority of our players to take every other time," Arnell said. "Sometimes, things don't go your way ... Our girls are working hard to make sure they do.

"We addressed a lot of our forward entries (against Hawthorn). We are creating opportunities - and now having one of the best forwards and one of the best players back in the team adds to our opportunities. We will have a stronger presence and target, one we have not had (for six weeks)."

Houghton's absence forced the move of captain Erin Phillips from centre square to the edges of the goalsquare where she has been serving up scoring chances to her team-mates but still not found her first goal for Port Adelaide.

"Erin has been leading the league in score involvements - she has played her role," Arnell said. "She is leading exceptionally well. Everything she is doing is brilliant, both on the training track and on field. She will keep bringing that."

Port Adelaide will field the 29th player from its 30-player squad against North Melbourne.

"We have had a couple of injuries (Houghton and ruck Liz McGrath in particular) that have been disappointing, particularly with Gemma in a 10-round season," Arnell said. "That made it difficult. But it also has presented a lot of opportunity for our young group. That has been one real positive - we have begun something really special with a quality, young group of players.

"They are playing tough games together and coming through with experiences that put them on the better side of (adversity). They are turning up with positive attitudes and desire to improve every day. That is a positive."

Despite a 1-1-5 win-draw-loss record, there is no sign of a novice team looking for the finish line to a season with no carrot of a finals appearance.

"It is a tribute to the culture we create here - Port Adelaide is not a club that will accept just turning up," Arnell said. "We are a footy club with a leadership group - and a coaching group - that turns up to be better every day. The culture we are building is (creating a competitive spirit) and anyone who comes to watch us train or play will see that.

"We will keep improving. There is the individual element - and that connection on field as well. Our group has put enormous time and effort to connecting off field and that is something I have demanded of them from day one (16 weeks ago). We still have opportunities (with three games against North Melbourne, St Kilda and Essendon) to connect - and in training as well. These are opportunities we are looking to take."

Port Adelaide will play a seventh-ranked North Melbourne team needing victory to be more certain of a top-eight finals berth - and a side renowned for making every rival earn every score. 

"North Melbourne is a good side - they play a really strong brand of football," noted Arnell of the opposition in a week when Port Adelaide and North Melbourne have been off-field rivals in the AFL trade period. "It is a brand that sets them up for future success. It is a really nice time to come up against a strong team for our young group."

The match begins at 12.40pm with limited capacity (3500) at Alberton Oval while redevelopment projects continue.

Round 7 is dedicated to "Pride" - diversity, equality, understanding. The Port Adelaide players will wear a specially designed jersey with a "fingerprint" design - the symbol to define how everyone is different.

"Our Pride jersey is modelled on 'unique identity'," Arnell explained. "We have the 'fingerprint' design. One beautiful thing about W - and sport - is it does bring people together. It is something I am so proud to be involved in. W has broken down so many barriers in sport in Australia by making sure all people feel involved in sport. 

"I want to see so many people feel welcome at Alberton on Saturday. One special part of Pride Round is the celebration of everyone feeling included and part of something. That is something I can connect with strongly (as a newcomer) at Port Adelaide. We are so excited and proud to be a part of this weekend's celebrations."