EXPERIENCED players brought into Port Adelaide's side to face Fremantle at Victor Harbor on Saturday have been put on notice by coach Matthew Primus, who says no spot is secure as round one nears.
After the Power's brigade of inexperienced talent pushed West Coast to within five points of an upset victory last Saturday, Primus said the onus is now on Saturday's team to perform, or risk slipping down the pecking order.
"It was difficult, yesterday, telling some of the young guys we took to Perth who performed well for us, especially in the second half, that they weren't able to get another crack at it tomorrow," Primus said on Friday.
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The Power have reintroduced several key players for the match, including captain Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert, Jackson Trengove, Danyle Pearce and premiership ruckman Brent Renouf.
"It (last week's game) put the emphasis on the guys we brought in this week that we rested last week, have really got to perform at a good level, because those [younger] guys really showed what they were capable of," Primus said.
"Everyone is under notice that if their form's not up, we've got guys ready to take your spot."
With Matthew Lobbe and Cameron Hitchcock Port's only injury concerns, the state of the list has played a huge part in driving internal selection pressure.
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Primus said, compared to this time last year, twice as many players had completed a full pre-season.
"For round one we've probably got 30 to 35 [players challenging for a position in the side]," he said.
"Last year we probably had about 15 players who had done absolutely everything and were ready to go for the whole season.
"What it's going to allow us is to have a squad that's physically going to be up for the battle … that's a credit to [Power fitness coach] Cam Falloon and his fitness department."
Despite improving dramatically in this year's NAB Cup, Primus said his side still had plenty to work on before its season begins on April 1 against St Kilda.
"We've been pleased with certain aspects of how we've played, but our real intensity around the footy we haven't had that for a sustained period of the game yet, we've only had it in bits and pieces," he said.
"Fremantle, it's only a short sample of games, have been really high up in that pressure kind of football which you'd expect from anyone under Ross [Lyon].
"We're really looking forward to lifting our intensity in that regard and bubbling along in the other things we've been doing well. "
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
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