PORT Adelaide vice-captain Dean Brogan has backed rookie Cameron Hitchcock to make his AFL debut against North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Hitchcock booted nine goals over the pre-season competition and was last week elevated to the senior list in place of injured draftee John Butcher.

He could be one of as many as five Power players to make their AFL debuts this week.
 
Tough onballers Mitch Banner and Andrew Moore, tall forward Daniel Stewart and ruckman Matthew Lobbe are in the mix, while experienced recruits Scott Harding and Jay Schulz could also play their first games for the club.

Brogan said he expected to see a few new faces in the team to tackle the Roos.

“Hitchy has been great for us and he’s been promoted to the senior list, so I’d say he’ll play,” Brogan said on Wednesday.

“Mitch has been great for us. He played all the trial games and he’d be well into the mix. Schulzy has also been a fantastic pick up for us and his form suggests he could play round one too.”

However, star forward Daniel Motlop is unlikely to play against his old side.

Motlop, 28, was sent for scans after feeling some tightness in his hamstring while playing for SANFL side North Adelaide on Saturday.

He was restricted to handball drills at training on Wednesday and will need to show marked improvement at Thursday’s main session to be considered for selection.

“Motts is 50/50 and we really need him to play. Tomorrow’s training will tell a lot,” Brogan said.

“It’s disappointing because Motts is very important for us up forward, but if he doesn’t play someone else is just going to have to step up.”

Thursday’s training session will also be the last chance for one of the club’s budding young ruckmen to pencil his name in alongside the vacant second ruck position.

Lobbe, Stewart, forward Justin Westhoff and rookie-listed utility Cameron Cloke are all capable of filling the role, but no clear standout has emerged.

Brogan denied he was feeling any extra pressure heading into round one despite being the club’s only experienced ruckman.

“I can’t play ruck for four quarters and everyone is aware of that. I’m confident I do all the right things on and off the field and look after my body. I’m not planning on getting injured,” Brogan said.

“Brendon Lade’s not here anymore and that’s that. There’s an opportunity there for someone like a Lobbe, Westhoff or Cloke to really put his hand up, and we’ve got to start getting someone through to play that second ruck role.

“It’s just like when I first started and Matty Primus went down with injury. Everyone was saying, ‘Oh no, who is going to ruck?’ but people just step up … that’s what happens.”