XAVIER Duursma can load his bow again. The crowds are back, both home and away in Melbourne, allowing the Port Adelaide wingman to celebrate his goals with the arrow ... a theme lost behind locked gates at Alberton last Saturday.

Same opponent this weekend - Adelaide. Different venue - the vast expanse of Noarlunga Oval. Crowds on the terraces. A new look to the game - and new challenge to the players with fewer rotations (75 rather than 90); more space for the kick-in and that contentious "stand" rule for the man on the mark.

The puzzle of just how the "best 22" looks for Port Adelaide deepens on the eve of a new season that will again remind all in Australian football that the AFL premiership will be won by the best squad - not the best team.

Port Adelaide's ideal 22 changes from the 2020 minor premiership-winning unit with the arrival of forward Orazio Fantasia from Essendon, versatile defender Aliir Aliir from Sydney and the cult hero in the making of half-back Lachie Jones from the draft pool.

Then there is 2019 top draftee Miles Bergman to test out in an environment where senior coach Ken Hinkley has repeatedly backed young talent, along with 2019 father-son draftee Jackson Mead who gets his first AFL call-up in Sunday's AAMI Community Series summer derby at Noarlunga.

And players such as wingman Karl Amon are being charged with more responsibility in game-defining stoppages while half-backs Dan Houston and Riley Bonner are finding new roles in the midfield zone.

"We have made a few adjustments," says Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett, "and they look okay."

By Sunday evening, after a shorter than usual pre-season (as a result of the late finish to Season 2020 after the 12-week COVID lockdown), the magnet board in Hinkley's match committee room might have more shuffle marks than the carpet on a casino blackjack table.

Port Adelaide will work a 26-man squad with changes at half-time while AFL rules for this practice match allowing for only 18 players on the field plus a four-man interchange at any time.

Captain Tom Jonas and match winner Robbie Gray join the squad after being on the sidelines last weekend. Defenders Hamish Hartlett and Trent McKenzie will be rested to ease general soreness and tall forward Todd Marshall will miss after suffering a bruised cheek against Adelaide last Saturday.

Adelaide will be in "game mode" - just 22 players working to 75 rotations - and dealing with the fall-out of last Saturday's 52-point loss at Alberton Oval. Coach Matthew Nicks noted this week his team "went back a step" in last weekend's trial - and certainly was on the back foot in losing centre-bounce clearances 6-22.

Port Adelaide's preparation for its AFL premiership-season opener against North Melbourne on March 21 certainly would be enhanced if Adelaide finds ways to offer greater resistance than shown last weekend in a trial game that had a monotone theme.

Port Adelaide's healthy list leaves this practice game to deepen the discussion on:

ALL the key structural debate on how to set up the attack around All-Australian key forward Charlie Dixon; one ruck (Scott Lycett with Aliir pinch hitting rather than Dixon) or two (Lycett and Peter Ladhams) and just how many rotations midfield boss Jarrad Schofield and Michael Voss can run with AFL quarters returning to 20 minutes (from 16 last season),

HOW much better Port Adelaide is at controlling the pace of the game - when to move with speed; and when to hold,

AND how that "connection" between players is confidently built on voice - the telling sign of a team that is ready to collect the dividends from experience and hard work on the training track.

Port Adelaide's 35 scores and 18 goals against Adelaide on Saturday put a defining measure on just how difficult it can be to shutdown an attacking-minded gameplan, particularly at the top of the forward zone.

"Orazio Fantasia adds to our high forward group - along with Steven Motlop, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters," said Bassett. "There is certainly is some talent and movement that goes through there.

"Orazio is going to help us score; you see when he touches the footy we score more often than not."

Supply to this attack was built on a commanding midfield led by Ollie Wines who has benefitted from an uneventful pre-season. How much pushback comes after Adelaide has spent the week reviewing the lessons delivered at Alberton will decide the margin in Sunday's finale to the pre-season.

Noted in the pre-season matches with the cutback in rotations from 90 of last season to 75 this year is the "fatigue factor" that opens up the match late in quarters and during the second half.

Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield expects his team's strong fitness program and base to overcome this challenge posed by interchange restrictions.

"We pride ourselves on our fitness base as a team," said Schofield. "We think we are pretty strong in that area. It is definitely going to challenge teams, it will challenge our players - and it challenges how you play the game of football itself. You need to be smart.

"The luxury for the spectators is it will keep the best players out there for longer. There are challenges for all, all sides. But if anything, you are going to need to be smart with your game model and managing that."

This AAMI Community Series match originally was to have been against West Coast at Leederville Oval in Perth, until the AFL took the risk-free course of keeping all 18 teams in their home states. This sets up yet another "summer Showdown" with Adelaide determined to respond to last week's walkover, Port Adelaide putting the finishing touches on a promising preparation to the premiership campaign and Duursma able to fire an arrow or two. 

THE FINER DETAIL

AAMI Community Series

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide

At: Flinders University Stadium (Noarlunga Oval)

When: 3.40pm, Sunday

Match rules: To AFL premiership-season regulations of 20-minute quarters (plus time-on), 75 interchange rotations and four on bench.

Televised: Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official App.

Tickets: Venue at capacity