PORT ADELAIDE will start a new AFL season with a new look - but it is the re-pairing of two "old hands" in a recast attack that has senior coach Ken Hinkley most excited.

And the inside knowledge of Sam Powell-Pepper and Darcy Byrne-Jones of a friend who has become foe will be critical in dealing with the well-known rebound from defence of Dan Houston in his first hit with Collingwood at the MCG.

Byrne-Jones will play his 200th AFL game, Powell-Pepper is resuming after his 2024 season was wrecked by a knee injury and Houston comes off the suspension list to start his run at Collingwood.

"Great stuff is happening," says Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley. "'Pep' is coming back. Darcy is playing his 200th game. What a great player Darcy has been for us. He has played almost every game he possibly could (after being drafted at No. 52 in 2013). 

"Darcy has changed his career from an All-Australian half-back flanker (in 2020) to a goalkicking high forward. 

"And 'Pep' brings spirit. We could not have two better role-model players this weekend to reflect on and celebrate - one coming back from a serious injury and one at a milestone. That is pretty exciting."

SELECTION: This much is certain - there will be six players missing from the last official Port Adelaide line-up that played Sydney in the preliminary final at the SCG: Zak Butters (knee), Charlie Dixon (retired), Francis Evans (now at Carlton), Quinton Narkle (Fremantle), Esava Ratugolea (knee) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (back).

Who fills the gaps - to be announced on Thursday evening - remains a fascinating agenda at match committee after training on Wednesday.

"(Still), it is pretty obvious (of the changes to come)," said Hinkley. "We have been pretty open all the way through with what we expect; we have played most of the players who we expect to be among the mix for this game

"There will be new players, but we won't confirm that right here, right now," added Hinkley at his morning press conference before training at Alberton.

"We will be happy with the team we put out there (at the MCG)."

BIG IMPRESSIONS: Hinkley nominated Gold Coast recruit Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards, who could make his Port Adelaide debut against his former mates at Collingwood, as the recruits who have left a strong impression during the pre-season.

"They have grown into our club so we are excited by what they might be able to do," Hinkley said.

And there are the draftees gained in allowing Houston to make his go-home move to Victoria, such as No.15 draftee Joe Berry, the small forward Port Adelaide claimed with its first call at the national draft in November.

"Lots, lots," says Hinkley of all he has liked of Berry's approach to his first AFL assignment. "We have seen for three or four months how he trains and we know what he did as an under-18 in the TAC Cup.

"Same with Tom Cochrane, Jack Whitlock, Christian Moreas ... I have loved a lot of things (we have seen from the new strategy). We have been really lucky with our first-year players this year and I am excited by them; they will all at some stage this season get a taste of AFL footy."

NEW LOOK: For the first time in a decade, Port Adelaide will have an attack that does not feature Charlie Dixon as its prime go-to forward. And the themes in Port Adelaide's forward half could dramatically move from this extreme to another with small forwards.

"It will be different, no doubt about that  - Charlie is a unique person and great player for our football club," said Hinkley. "Now we look forward to what the new looks like. We are about to find out under real pressure on Saturday night.

"It might be clunky at different times, particularly early," added Hinkley of the challenge of establishing new methods and habits in attack. "We are learning our way through it. We are educating ourselves as much as the people on the outside. It will be interesting to see how it works.

"But we can be a damaging front half with our small forwards. We have improved that part of our team."

OPPO WATCH: Collingwood - and some of its star players such as Nick Daicos - are compelled to respond to the criticism and doubts created by the opening round loss to Greater Western Sydney.

"We can overreact to one game," Hinkley said. "Collingwood will be full of energy. They are in front of their fans, they have their own celebrations to honour and the last thing I would be doing is pigeon-holing Collingwood as anything but a bloody good team."

HOUSTON: "Dan has been one of our favourite players for a long period of time," said Hinkley of the 168-game defender. "But he is now a Collingwood player. We move on .. 

"We just don't want Dan to have a great day and we will do our best. When Dan and I last spoke I wished him all the best every time he plays, except when he plays Port Adelaide. We hope he has a bad day."

LAST OPENER: It will be Ken Hinkley's last opening game as Port Adelaide coach as he works towards the succession hand over with Josh Carr at year's end.

"I feel really excited," Hinkley said. "I think and hope my team feels that way too. They are my team and I feel they are really excited about the season and the opportunities in front of them. I am looking forward to round one and every game that comes after that."

MEDICAL ROOMS: Key defender Esava Ratugolea is ready to play again after minor knee surgery.

"He will get some minutes in our SANFL trial," Hinkley said. "He is not quite ready to play an AFL game. He is coming along really nicely."