PORT Adelaide's physical midfield trifecta of Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and Sam Powell-Pepper will keep three-time best and fairest Robbie Gray playing predominantly in the forward line.
The Power will be aiming for back-to-back wins to start the season when they host Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Ken Hinkley's men caused the upset of the opening round when they ended an 11-year SCG hoodoo to stun grand finalist Sydney on Saturday.
Wines, Ebert and first-gamer Powell-Pepper hunted in a pack and terrorised the Swans' midfielders.
Gray had just eight possessions and was coming off a limited pre-season, playing just one game in the JLT Community Series.
Power assistant coach Nathan Bassett said Gray was "fine" and that opportunities were harder to come by playing as a permanent forward.
"He spent most of the game in the forward line and it's a lot harder to touch the footy in the forward line than it is in the midfield," Bassett said.
"His pre-season has been a little bit interrupted.
"His attitude was excellent, probably the role didn't help him get the ball quite so much and (he was) playing against some good defenders that Sydney have, like Nick Smith.
"I think you'd imagine he'll play a bit more time in the midfield, but the three guys in there have been doing an excellent job in Ebert, Wines and Powell-Pepper."
Gray has averaged 26.3 possessions per game in each of the past two seasons while also booting a total of 50 goals.
He's won the John Cahill Medal as the Power's best and fairest in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was also an All Australian in 2014 and 2015.
Forwards Jarman Impey and Nathan Krakouer are available for selection this week after missing the season opener through suspension.
"There's a chance one or both can come back in," Bassett said.
The Power have missed the finals for the past two seasons, but have hit the ground running after knocking off the Swans.
"The ego takes a hit from the last couple of years and we're back to realising this is hard work, this game," Bassett said.
"The guys' attitude during the pre-season has been excellent.
"We've thrown a few new ideas at them and the guys have brought into the way we're trying to play.
"It hasn't all worked in pre-season, but we're starting to see some change now.
"It's about continuing that and continuing to do it well, week in and week out."
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This article originally appeared on afl.com.au
