PORT ADELAIDE players will be setting their alarms nice and early if they have to fly up to the Gold Coast on the day of the game against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

The club returned home to Adelaide last weekend rather than staying an extra week in the AFL’s Queensland hub and is now awaiting confirmation of its flight details to return.

The club usually flies out for interstate games the day before a game.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, versatile defender / midfielder Dan Houston said whatever the flight arrangement, it would not change much in terms of how players prepare.

“At this stage it looks like we’re flying out the day of the game and then coming back that night,” Houston explained.

“It’ll be a reasonably early wake up for us but we’re looking forward to it. Other teams have done it as well and we’ll probably get to spend an extra night at home as well, which is good, so nothing really changes.

“We’ll have to be at the club around 5:30am or 5:40am, so it’ll be a reasonably early wake up but hopefully the boys can have a sleep on the plane and make that flight that bit quicker.

“We’ve travelled long distances for games before so we’re used to it. Nothing really changes from our point of view except obviously you lose a bit of sleep.

“The other teams are going to have to do it as well, other teams are in hubs, so that’s just our part that we’re going to have to play to get games going on the weekend.”

As well as adjusting his sleeping pattern, Houston has become accustomed to changing where he lines up on the field.

Having been drafted as a forward, Houston has made a name for himself as a composed, reliable defender who can distribute the ball well off half back.

But after deputising in the midfield for the injured Tom Rockliff in Shanghai last year, the 23-year-old spent most of his pre-season preparing to play in the midfield in 2020.

An injury to Ryan Burton saw him shuffle back into defence for the last three games, and with Burton pushing for a recall against the Giants, Houston could again be moved back into the midfield – not that it bothers him.

“I’m happy to play any role, whether that be mid or back,” Houston said.

“I’m really happy to do my bit for the team.

“I’ve enjoyed playing mid. It’s just a game of footy but you’re obviously a bit closer to the ball, which is good.

“Obviously, we saw a fair bit of the ball in the defence on the weekend but I’m really happy to play mid or back.”

The Giants started the season slowly but have regained some players and have won their last two games against Collingwood and Hawthorn.

Houston said the team would need to work through how to counter the various threats the Giants possess.

“They’ve got some really good interceptors down back and a lot of talent ahead of the footy and in the midfield so that’ll be something we look at, as to how to counteract that.”

Port Adelaide will name a 26-man squad this evening after its main training session for the week, before trimming the squad to 22 for Sunday’s game.

First bounce is from 1:05pm AEST / 12:35pm ACST.