Re-elevated rookie Kane Mitchell replaces Jackson Trengove who was placed on the club’s long-term injury list on Thursday.
Acting senior coach Alan Richardson told portadelaidefc.com.au the selection is a reward for Mitchell’s strong performances as the club’s substitute in the opening three rounds of the season.
Mitchell was placed back on the rookie list after Nick Salter recovered from his long-term foot injury ahead of Round 4.
“It’s certainly a reward for the way he (Mitchell) played prior to going out of the team,” explained Richardson.
“The only reason why he left the team was because of reasons beyond his control (Nick Salter returning from long term injury).
“We felt last week that we’d lost a little bit of run in the side and Kane’s ability to run for four quarters will give us a boost in that area."
Richardson will take charge of the Port Adelaide side this Saturday in Hobart after senior coach Ken Hinkley was hospitalised with a virus on Wednesday.
Hinkley is expected to make a full-recovery over the coming days, however has been advised to steer clear of air travel.
But it will be business as usual according to Richardson, who works hand-in-hand with Hinkley in running Port Adelaide’s football program.
“It will be absolutely the same messages coming out of a different mouth,” said Richardson.
“Ken and I spend an enormous amount of time together having both arrived at the club at the same time last year and with the other coaches to make sure that we’re incredibly consistent in our messages to the players.
“I think we’ll be very stable in the way we run things this weekend.”
Richardson says the club has rated North Melbourne as the best team it will have played in the first six rounds of this season.
Although the Kangaroos have won only one game, its losses have come at the hands of each of the last four AFL premiers – Sydney, Geelong, Collingwood and Hawthorn.
“We spoke to the players on Wednesday in our opposition preview and we rate North as probably the best team we’d have played so far this year,” said Richardson.
“They’ve played the four last premiership teams and were really competitive - they dominated Hawthorn and Geelong in many facets.
“We know it’s an enormous challenge again but we’re up for the fight and it’s going to be a big game.”
John Butcher, Andrew Moore and Sam Colquhoun are Port Adelaide’s emergencies.
The first bounce on Saturday will be at 2:10pm (EST) / 1:40pm (CST).
portadelaidefc.com.au will have comprehensive coverage of proceedings during and after the game.
Port Adelaide Round 6 team v North Melbourne
FB: Campbell Heath, Alipate Carlile, Lewis Stevenson
HB: Cameron O’Shea, Tom Jonas, Dom Cassisi
C: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett
HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Paul Stewart
FF: Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Robbie Gray
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Kane Cornes
Int from: Brent Renouf, Matthew Broadbent, Angus Monfries, Kane Mitchell
Emergencies: John Butcher, Andrew Moore, Sam Colquhoun
In: Kane Mitchell (LTI rookie upgrade)
Out: Jackson Trengove (foot)
