AT least captain Tom Jonas won't be fussed about how the coin falls for the choice of ends while his Port Adelaide team-mates reacquaint themselves with the Docklands arena on Sunday.

So much has changed since Port Adelaide last played at the indoor stadium - August 17, 2019. It seems only the name of the venue, Marvel Stadium, remains unchanged ...

Then Port Adelaide lived up to its "consistently inconsistent" image by burning a clear passage to the AFL top-eight final series with an 86-point battering from the non-contending North Melbourne.

Now, after establishing its pacesetter credentials with the 2020 minor premiership, Port Adelaide is considered a premiership favourite among last season's top-four pack with AFL champion Richmond, Geelong and Brisbane.

Then Port Adelaide, for good reason, could not be trusted by the AFL's opinion shapers. Now Ken Hinkley's squad, playbook and approach has a significant bandwagon of admirers expecting Port Adelaide to follow up last season's image-changing ways by delivering more league-best markers, particularly on the scoreboard.

Certainly Port Adelaide's eagerness to get the ball - and lock it - in the forward half is more likely to be rewarded by all the changes to the game's rule book since 2019.

"I appreciate the opinions; whether they are right or wrong, at the end of 2021 we will have a better understanding," Hinkley said of Port Adelaide's new status. "But (those opinions) don't change the way we approach what we do.

"We expect to play consistent football, week in, week out.

"Last year, went someway to proving we are capable of that. But, ultimately we did not get to where we want to go."

Port Adelaide's line-up for Sunday's premiership-season opener is significantly different from Round 22, 2019 - not just in names but also the positional titles attached to the names that remain.

Amid the challenge during the summer for every Port Adelaide player to be comfortable in a second role, half-back Riley Bonner has become a wingman.

"Riley quite easily could have been pushed out of the half-back flank," said Hinkley after handing that defensive role to 2019 top-draftee Miles Bergman for his AFL debut on Sunday. "But what he has been able to do on a wing for us this pre-season is really exciting. We again look forward to having a really flexible team."

In 2019, key forward Charlie Dixon had the experience of Justin Westhoff and promise of then 19-game Todd Marshall to support him inside-50. Now, Westhoff is enjoying his first winter of retirement and Marshall is to play his 35th AFL match with expectation still heavily strapped to his shoulders.

"Todd has had a good, strong pre-season," says Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett. "We have not been able to see it in pre-season games because he was injured (bruised cheek) in the first trial game (against Adelaide at Alberton Oval).

"But he has been good; he is playing to his size. He is a big man, 197cm. And he is embracing AFL football and what it means for him and his family.

"We're still learning about him - and he is still learning about playing football. But he is improving all the time."

Port Adelaide's defence has certainly changed with the arrival of tall backman Aliir Aliir from Sydney, adding height (196cm) and intercept to the back half of the formation.

"With Aliir coming in, that makes it tighter (at selection)," says fellow defender Tom Clurey who plays his 100th AFL game on Sunday. "What Aliir brings to the group is a bit different - his intercepting game is outstanding."

Port Adelaide's attack gains the eager, opportunistic ways of Essendon recruit Orazio Fantasia - a player who has drawn much admiration at Alberton for his professional attitude and approach to his preparation and game.

North Melbourne also has changed since August 17, 2019 - most notably with a new coach, David Noble, who is well versed on Port Adelaide.

"We're not sure what 'Nobes' will bring, but they will be full of energy and ready to go," Hinkley said. "It happens all the time, what we suspect might or might not happen does not always happen. For us, we have one thing to control - that is our urgency and our energy and our intent to play the way we need to play.

"If we do that well, I'm confident about whoever we play we can beat them."

"IT is a bit of the unknown. There has been plenty of turnover of their list. The are a pretty young team. What we saw in the pre-season that they want to take it on a bit."

Port Adelaide defender Tom Clurey on meeting North Melbourne in his 100th AFL game.

BIRD SEED

(the little stuff that matters)

Where: Marvel Stadium, Docklands Melbourne

When: Sunday, March 21

Time: 12.40pm SA time

Last time: Port Adelaide 11.12 (78) d North Melbourne 6.6 (42) in round 16, September 5 last year at Metricon Stadium

Last time at Marvel Stadium: Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) lost to North Melbourne 22.12 (144) in round 22, August 17, 2019

Overall: Port Adelaide 14, North Melbourne 22

Past five games (most recent first): W L W W W

Scoring average: Port Adelaide 93 points, North Melbourne 95

Tightest winning margin - Port Adelaide by two points (95-93) at Football Park in round 8, May 19, 2012; North Melbourne by two points (76-74) at Football Park in round 15, July 12, 2008.

Biggest winning margin - Port Adelaide by 87 points twice, (164-77) at the Docklands in the 2005 elimination final; (133-87) at Football Park in the 2007 preliminary final; North Melbourne by 92 points (140-48) at the Docklands in round 8, May 16, 2004.

By venues - Adelaide Oval (2-0), Football Park (6-6), MCG (1-2), Docklands (4-7), Metricon Stadium (1-0) Princes Park, Carlton (0-2), SCG (0-1), Manuka Oval, Canberra (0-3), Bellerive Oval, Hobart (0-1).

By States and territories - South Australia (8-6), Victoria (5-11), Queensland (1-0), New South Wales (0-1), Tasmania (0-1), Australian Capital Territory (0-3).

SELECTION TABLE 

Port Adelaide

THREE new faces for Port Adelaide - forward Orazio Fantasia (from Essendon), defender Aliir Aliir (from Sydney) and 2019 No.14 draftee Miles Bergman. Midfielder Willem Drew returns to the line-up for the first time since 2019.

North Melbourne

FIVE new names on the North Melbourne team sheet from Collingwood recruit Jaidyn Stephenson, former Greater Western Sydney defender Aidan Corr, Western Bulldogs recruit Lachie Young, South Australian draftee Tom Powell and medical substitute Charlie Lazzaro.