Senior coach Ken Hinkley said as much before the side's final training session at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
With the inclusion of Aaron Young, Cam O'Shea and Dom Cassisi, the Power has brought in three dynamic and versatile replacements for the forced omissions of Trengove and Carlile, and small forward Sam Gray.
The choice to go with O'Shea, and not developing full back Tom Clurey, came down to the experience the hard-running defender has at the highest level.
Selection: Three changes for Power, Hibberd, Fletcher out for Dons
That's experience in finals, and in a handful of games this season, and it's something that gave him an edge over Cluery at the selection table, according to Hinkley.
"It was either going to be Tom or Cam, they're both basically the same height [however] Cam's got a little more history of playing AFL football," Hinkley said.
"Both were in equally as good form in the SANFL, so it was just a little bit of Cam's ability to have done it for us over the last 12 months - he played 24 games last year.
"We know that he adds to our run as well.
"It was one [decision] where we went with the bloke who we think can give us a bit of a different look at times."
That proven versatility at AFL level will be important for a Power side looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance against the Crows last week.
Along with the inclusion of Aaron Young, who played a full game back in the SANFL last Saturday, and Dom Cassisi, the coaching box will have plenty of options to plug gaps and play the brand of exciting, challenging football the Power prides itself on.
"The key reason for us to have sent Youngy back to the SANFL last week was to give him a full game of footy," Hinkley said.
"The Magpies have the bye this week, so it would have been a bad decision had we not given him the full run last week.
"As it happens, he ran the game out really well and his form was as good as anyone on the ground, and he gets an opportunity to come back into the side.
"And Dom gives us the leadership and hard work we probably need a bit more of around the ground last weekend."
So how does the Power cover the loss of Trengove and Carlile?
It's an important question to answer, because the Power will be without both of those important backmen for at least two games.
Putting just one tall in O'Shea down back will actually balance the height composition of the Power's back six.
And while acknowledging the 237 games of experience lost in Trengove and Carlile, Hinkley is comfortable hix back six will hold up against Essendon.
"We've almost been one extra [tall defender] down there most of the time, so one of our talls has had to play small," Hinkley explained.
"So we didn't feel that was as big a knock on us, losing two of the defenders as talls.
"We'd love to have [Carlile and Trengove] in the side obviously, but from a height point-of-view it doesn't disrupt us that much."
Be there Saturday night to be part of Australia's loudest crowd!
While the back six may remain structurally sound, there will be a little bit of 'Robbing Peter to pay Paul' on Saturday night with the loss of Trengove as a pinch-hitting ruckman.
"We've almost been one extra [tall defender] down there most of the time, so one of our talls has had to play small," Hinkley explained.
"So we didn't feel that was as big a knock on us, losing two of the defenders as talls.
"We'd love to have [Carlile and Trengove] in the side obviously, but from a height point-of-view it doesn't disrupt us that much."
Be there Saturday night to be part of Australia's loudest crowd!
While the back six may remain structurally sound, there will be a little bit of 'Robbing Peter to pay Paul' on Saturday night with the loss of Trengove as a pinch-hitting ruckman.
It means the coaches will turn to versatile half-forward Justin Westhoff to play the primary supporting role for number one ruck Matthew Lobbe.
But the reliance on Westhoff won't be so huge that it adversely impacts the way the Power's forward structure works - after all, Westhoff can play just about any role on the field, and often is the go-to man when a problem needs fixing down back.
Even if Westhoff goes into the ruck, the Power's forward attack is one of the most dynamic in the AFL - with Coleman Medal leading Jay Schulz as a main pivot, supported by a range of medium and small forward options like Angus Monfries, Chad Wingard, Matt White and Robbie Gray.
"The biggest disruption is the Jacko one into the ruck, which obviously we can't replace, so we're going to have to go down the other end and go to Westhoff more often than not," Hinkley said.
"We've actually done that quite a lot, so we're quite familiar with it.
"[The forward structure] will look different for small parts of the game, not big parts of the game.
"We think our forward line functions well small or even if it's a bit tall."
Port Adelaide plays the Bombers at 7:10pm on Saturday night, with tickets still available through Ticketek, and 3-game memberships providing access to the Power's last three night games, including against the Bombers via weareportadelaide.com.au or by calling the club on 1300 467 232.
Read our complete gameday guide to Round 16
But the reliance on Westhoff won't be so huge that it adversely impacts the way the Power's forward structure works - after all, Westhoff can play just about any role on the field, and often is the go-to man when a problem needs fixing down back.
Even if Westhoff goes into the ruck, the Power's forward attack is one of the most dynamic in the AFL - with Coleman Medal leading Jay Schulz as a main pivot, supported by a range of medium and small forward options like Angus Monfries, Chad Wingard, Matt White and Robbie Gray.
"The biggest disruption is the Jacko one into the ruck, which obviously we can't replace, so we're going to have to go down the other end and go to Westhoff more often than not," Hinkley said.
"We've actually done that quite a lot, so we're quite familiar with it.
"[The forward structure] will look different for small parts of the game, not big parts of the game.
"We think our forward line functions well small or even if it's a bit tall."
Port Adelaide plays the Bombers at 7:10pm on Saturday night, with tickets still available through Ticketek, and 3-game memberships providing access to the Power's last three night games, including against the Bombers via weareportadelaide.com.au or by calling the club on 1300 467 232.
Read our complete gameday guide to Round 16
