THE absence of senior defenders Jackson Trengove, Dom Cassisi and Jasper Pittard will give an opportunity to some of Port Adelaide’s younger backmen this weekend.

Sam Colquhoun, Campbell Heath and Jack Hombsch are all in the mix to return to the Power’s side.

Considering his strong 24-disposal outing for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, and that Cassisi effectively replaced him in the side last week, common sense would suggest Campbell Heath is the first in line for a recall.

But Colquhoun has performed solidly throughout the year in the SANFL and is similarly in the mix for a recall.

Jake Neade will be rested this weekend, which gives an in-form Cameron Hitchcock the opportunity to play his first AFL game for the year.

Hitchcock only played in two games last year, but has incorporated a defensive-running element into his game at Glenelg this year and was the travelling emergency against Carlton last week.

The key for Port Adelaide will be about getting the best outcome in both the short and longer terms with its experienced players out of the side.

Do the coaches bring in more experienced heads like Tom Logan and Matt Thomas? Both have been in form for several weeks in the SANFL.

Or do they blood younger players against a hardened Geelong outfit?

portadelaidefc.com.au will have the team first on Thursday night at 5:55pm (CST)

Port Adelaide injury list

Brent Renouf – knee (2 weeks)
Jasper Pittard – hip flexor (3-4 weeks)
Brett Ebert – adductor (3 weeks)
Jackson Trengove – foot (7 weeks)
Dom Cassisi – hamstring (TBC)

Enemy Lines: Geelong

Josh Cowan is anticipated to return to the Geelong line-up return this weekend, after being sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Steve Johnson (calf), Paul Chapman (hamstring), Hamish McIntosh (Achilles) and Jesse Stringer (hamstring) are still out injured.

Geelong, like Port Adelaide, will focus on strong starts and playing consistent football according to Cats midfielder James Kelly.

“I think teams are coming after us pretty hard and we haven’t been 100% ready for that,” Kelly told the official Geelong website.

“Our consistency throughout the game is staying the same, but other teams are starting higher, then dropping off and it looks like we’re lifting, but I think we’re just staying at a steady state.”

Geelong’s last team

FB: Corey Enright, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie
HB: Joel Corey, Harry Taylor, Cameron Guthrie
C: Shannon Motlop, Jimmy Bartel, Mitch Duncan
HF: Billie Smedts, Mark Blicavs, Matthew Stokes
FF: James Podsiadly, Tom Hawkins, Allen Christensen
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, Josh Caddy
Int from: Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Schroder, George Horlin-Smith, Josh Hunt

Geelong’s injury list

Paul Champman – hamstring
Josh Cowan – achillies
Hamish McIntosh – achillies
Jesse Stringer – hamstring
Steven Johnson - calf