CHARLIE DIXON will spearhead the Port Adelaide attack in the Friday Night Football test against AFL leader St Kilda.

And the real test for another recast line-up is how quickly Port Adelaide moves the ball on the fast indoor track at the Docklands in west Melbourne to avert Dixon and his forward partners being crowded by a well-disciplined St Kilda team.

Port Adelaide defence coach Nathan Bassett notes speed "can be" the key to unlocking the vice the top-ranked St Kilda has quickly developed in the second coming of senior coach Ross Lyon.

"Teams that have taken a lot of marks have not had great success so far," Bassett said at Alberton on Thursday. "You want to give your forwards some opportunity in one-on-ones. 

"But you (also) have to be patient as well. If scoring is the only thing that makes you feel good, playing St Kilda will not make you feel good too often".

St Kilda has conceded an average of 60 points this season. No team has managed to break the 100-point barrier in six games. The highest score conceded by St Kilda is 74 points (to Essendon in round three).

"They have been the stand-out defensive team this year," Bassett said of the 5-1 league pacesetter. "They are three goals better than anyone else, so it is going to be a challenge to kick a score that is big enough to win."

(Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley was absent for personal reasons - to be in Melbourne - while the squad trained at Alberton Oval on Thursday morning. He will rejoin the group later on Thursday and coach on Friday night.)

Port Adelaide is forced to make one change in each zone - losing Todd Marshall (concussion) in attack; captain Tom Jonas (suspension); and midfielder Kane Farrell (broken cheekbone).

Dixon resumes after sitting out the 40-point win against West Coast with a jarred knee.

"Charlie trained fully (on Wednesday)," Bassett said.

The leading contenders to join Dixon in the 22 are last weekend's tactical substitute Dylan Williams, Lachie Jones and Jase Burgoyne. A 25-man squad will travel.

Selection will be confirmed on Thursday evening.

Bassett also detailed at his media conference at Alberton:

TEAKLE AGAIN: West Australian mid-season draftee Brynn Teakle will remain the lead ruck - against St Kilda rival Rowan Marshall - with the support of Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson and back-up of acting captain Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper.

"Brynn will get first look at the ruck," confirmed Bassett. "He competed reasonably well last week ... "

SCOTT LYCETT: Port Adelaide's most-experienced ruckman will remain in the SANFL rebuilding his stock after losing most of last season to a shoulder injury.

"Scott is working on his footy and trying to improve, so he will play SANFL on Sunday," Bassett said. "He missed a big chunk of footy last year; he has had a couple of good contests this year and a couple - to be fair - he has not performed at the level that he or we would like. This week gives him another chance to be better."

GAME STYLE: "There will be opportunities for us to go quicker ... and there will be times when we need to be more patient with the ball," Bassett said. "The challenge is - with the ball and not making mistakes at the other end (in defence).

"St Kilda has a clearly defined style. They work together well as a team. There is a bit of 'soccer defence' about the way they play."

DYLAN WILLIAMS: "He finished the season well last year and had a good pre-season," Bassett said of the former forward who is now a sound kick from defence. "He showed his running levels could get to a place where he could compete at AFL level. He has been calm and composed with the footy. He works well with the defence group, communicating well with the other guys. He certainly is reliable with what he does. He has had a good start to his career as a defender."

FREE KICKS: Port Adelaide's concern for its high count of free kicks against the team is now focussed on tackling techniques. "The holding-the-man (free kicks) is the common theme across all parts of the ground," Bassett said. "We have spent a bit of time on tackling techniques. We are making adjustments."

MITCH GEORGIADES: The young forward has returned to his family base in Perth where he will have surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Injured in the SANFL game against Sturt on Sunday, Georgiades is expected to return to Alberton in a month.

Port Adelaide has a strong record against St Kilda during the past decade with 11 wins from the past 12 meetings. This includes wins in the most recent clashes at the Docklands in 2021 and 2013.

The match begins at 7.20pm (SA time) with full coverage on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.