PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has confirmed defender Jasper Pittard is likely to return for his side’s blockbuster clash against Richmond tomorrow night.

Pittard suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season and has played just one AFL game this season, against West Coast in Perth, before being dropped to the SANFL to regain form.

Among the Magpies better players in the last three games, Hinkley said the 27-year-old deserved a recall.

"We'll probably make one change, we'd like to get Jasper back in the side, which means one of our talls, probably Jack Hombsch, will more than likely miss out at this stage,” Hinkley said at a press conference after his side trained at Adelaide Oval.

“Jasper is part of our best team and a bit like Rock (Tom Rockliff) we were trying to get them into a bit better form and we’re not rushing them.

“It’s probably given him the best opportunity to come in and play better football this time.”

Hinkley said the decision was as much about rewarding Pittard for his form as it was dealing with the small forward line used by the Tigers.

“Richmond do tend to play a smaller forward line and with the three or four talls we do have down there at the moment, it’s probably one too many for Richmond,” Hinkley said.

The reigning premiers were dealt a blow ahead of the game at Adelaide Oval with Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin ruled out with a sore calf.

Instead of boarding a plane to Adelaide, the 26-year-old has instead travelled to New Zealand to visit his father.

Hinkley said Martin’s absence was a boost to his side’s chances but he still expected a tough contest.

“It’s a good headache not to have, he’s the best player in the competition,” he said.

“You’ve seen how well Richmond is playing at the moment, how well they’re competing as a team.

“They’re not competing just as Dustin or Trent (Cotchin) or Rance or Riewoldt, the names that get regularly mentioned.

“The names that get missed are the ones who are making a significant impact to that side.”

Adelaide is forecast to receive up to 15 millimetres of rain tomorrow but Hinkley said it was unlikely to change the way the game would be played.

“It’s going to be a pressure game against Richmond (anyway) so you don’t have to change too much,” he said.

“If the weather comes in as bad as they’re talking about, it’ll just make it a little more of a contested game and it’ll be a territory game.

“It’s a game Richmond play, it’s a game we don’t mind playing ourselves but we’re going to get a test against the absolute best at it.”

Despite the predicted weather, Hinkley also backed big forward Charlie Dixon to impact on the game.

The 27-year-old has kicked just seven goals in 2018, well down on his career-best 49 last season.

"He's not in his best form, he wouldn't hide away from that," Hinkley said.

"It's not about kicking goals, it's not about taking marks – don't get me wrong, we love all those things – but compete first and foremost, bring the ball to ground and make sure we can put on a really significant contest in our forward 50, and that will help the team.

"And with the prediction of the weather tomorrow night, that's what we should expect from our bigger players."

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