Avoiding Folau The Plan
Steven Salopek says he'll be trying to stay out of the way of Israel Folau when Port and GWS meet
Folau has been named in the GWS team for the first time since his highly-publicised code switch last year.
The former Brisbane Broncos star started training with the Giants in October, but is yet to play any part in the club's pre-season campaign after having post-season ankle surgery.
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy has indicated Folau will spend time at both ends of the ground this weekend and Salopek said playing against the 21-year-old was an imposing proposition.
"I'm glad he [Folau] is going to line up at full-forward, apparently… so it won't be me that plays on him," Salopek said.
"If he plays up forward he can probably expect to play on Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile or Jackson Trengove. I'm sure they [GWS] will want to try him in a few different positions. It's his first game, so I guess he'll just have a run around and see how it goes.
"He's a big and intimidating figure and good luck to him. He's obviously changed codes and we wish him well, but not this week. It's great for the game over there [in NSW] for the exposure he's given to Greater Western Sydney."
The NAB Challenge game in Willaston will also be GWS assistant coach Mark Williams' first time in the opposite corner of the team he coached for over a decade.
Salopek said he expected Williams to use his intimate knowledge of the Power as a weapon against his old side on Saturday.
"Choco [Williams] obviously knows us better than any coach in the AFL," Salopek said.
"I'm sure he'll have a few tricks up his sleeve to try and combat what we're trying to do. We've changed a few things as well and hopefully we can play our style of game and focus on what we want to do."
Port Adelaide has named a 28-man squad to take on the Giants, which will be trimmed to 24 on Friday. Coach Matthew Primus will only rotate 21 players in the first half in line with the changes to the AFL's interchange rules for the 2011 season.
GWS has been soundly beaten in each of its pre-season hit-outs, including a 157-point loss to Carlton in week two of the NAB Challenge.
The Power petitioned the AFL to have the clash with the inexperienced Giants called off, so they could play against a seasoned SANFL team instead, but that request was denied.
Salopek said the players had no issues playing against the young GWS team.
"They [the Giants] are just another team. We still want to go out there and win and to play to our structures and our roles," he said.
"It's a perfect opportunity for us just to fine-tune everything we've been doing."
Forward Jason Davenport (groin) has been named to play his first game of the pre-season, while defender Jacob Surjan will line up in a SANFL trial game for Port Magpies.
Salopek was one of nine Port Adelaide players to have his head shaved on Thursday, as part of the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.
The club has raised almost $10,000 for the charity, including $2,5000 from the players.
Steven Salopek is a $297,900 midfielder in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.