WITH a distinctly different - and more advantageous - lead-in to AFL finals this season, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley enters Thursday night's home qualifying final against Geelong with one certainty: "We're ready."

In stark contrast to last season, when Port Adelaide limped into the finals with a heavy injury toll, the preparation for September could be labelled as ideal.

"We are in a really healthy position," Hinkley said. "We are a mature team. We have earned our right as second on the ladder. We look forward to playing at home in front of a big crowd. 

"We have had great experiences running into this final. We have played a Showdown here two weeks ago in front of 50,000-plus people. We are ready for this game and we are looking forward to this type of game.

"We are in a really good spot for what is next."

Hinkley joined the captain's run at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday morning holding his selection cards close to his chest.

"We are pretty clear with what will be (at selection); we will keep them to ourselves," said Hinkley with his qualifying final squad to be revealed on Thursday evening.

"We are really clear on who we will play - and how we will play.

"We are really confident we are ready for the next month - and it goes for the next month."

THE BIG CALLS: Defence needs to be re-organised by the loss of All-Australian half-back Dan Houston by suspension and Kane Farrell with a hamstring strain that has ended his season.

Hinkley is not short of options - from returning Darcy Byrne-Jones to the zone where he won All-Australian honours in 2020 and captain Connor Rozee who played at half-back in his premiership-winning season in the SANFL with North Adelaide.

"We have had a half of footy (against Fremantle) without both Houston and Farrell and we probably played our best half with really strong footy," Hinkley said. "It is not ideal to have players missing, but every team has that challenge - and we are really confident and comfortable with the players we have available and that they will be more than good enough."

Rozee in defence - rather than midfield and attack - is not off the agenda.

"We would (consider it)," Hinkley said. "We have to consider that. Connor has great flexibility for us. He can play at that end of the ground. He has played there successfully in senior football. It is an option for us. We nearly put him there at half-time against Fremantle.

"We have to be careful we don't mess around too much with (the line-up)," added Hinkley when pressed on the prospect of moving Byrne-Jones to defence.

Attack is expected to regain Charlie Dixon who missed the home-and-away season closer against Fremantle in Perth. He also serves as a support to lead ruckman Jordon Sweet.

"We are really confident with what Charlie brings to our football team and he is really important," Hinkley said. "We have great confidence in him. He has a real presence. He is a significantly important player for us. It is not by marks, kicks and goals - it is more around contests. We all get reminded at this time of the year that it is a contest game and Charlie is ready to go."

The lingering question is on the decision to be made with specialist forward Todd Marshall. And can Port Adelaide work Marshall, Dixon, Esava Ratugolea and Mitch Georgiades in the same attack?

Marshall last played on August 10 - against Melbourne at the MCG where he was subbed out and placed in the concussion protocols.

"We will make the decisions that are right for us," Hinkley said. "We are sure we will pick a really good side."

Ratugolea faces his former team-mates at Geelong with no regret on seeking a trade to Port Adelaide,

"Esava made a really brave decision," Hinkley said. "For him, it was about playing opportunities. I know he has great respect for Geelong. But he wanted to make sure he was playing - and at this time of the year his dream is to be playing. And right now he is going to be playing."

OPPO WATCH: Geelong has reacted to Port Adelaide unlocking the secret to defender Tom Stewart by placing its intercept man in the midfield. How does Port Adelaide deal with the new Tom Stewart?

"We don't worry too much about any individual - we can't afford to do that when Geelong has great flexibility with their team while they throw everyone around everywhere," Hinkley said. "We have plans around our game that we need to make sure are right. If that involves some of their players, we will take care of that.

"We would rather play our game. Geelong does have a lot of tricks that they will throw at you. But we will make sure we do our best to not be distracted.

"We can't determine where Geelong will put their players. We have to put ours in the right spots."

There is only one encounter with Geelong to review from the home-and-away series - a rare win at Kardinia Park by six points on May 10. That game had Dante Visentini lead the rucks while Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet missed with injury and illness respectively.

"You get some confidence from that result because we know how hard it is to win at Geelong; it is gives us confidence that playing our best football we can beat Geelong," Hinkley said. 

"There is a lot of personnel difference (from the last clash with Geelong). For both teams. That is why you don't look back. Don't worry about what was 10 weeks ago. We spend our time on this week and know we have to play our best to win.

"There are a lot of challenges with Geelong. But our single focus has been on how we play and we are going to make sure we bring our absolute best to our game. If we do that, we will be confident we can win the game."

FINALS TALE: Port Adelaide and Geelong meet for the sixth time in AFL finals with results so far decided on home-field advantage. Port Adelaide has won three qualifying finals against Geelong in Adelaide - 2004 at Football Park and at Adelaide Oval in 2020 and 2021 (by 16 and 43 points respectively).

"None of it means anything on Thursday night," Hinkley said. "Nor does what has happened against Geelong before ... it is a whole new game."

Port Adelaide is entering its fourth finals series in the past five years with a top-four ranking.

"Our journey across the past five years is a great experience," Hinkley said. "You can't look back. But we have learned all the way through that journey. We have consistently given ourselves a chance - and we should be proud of that."