Port Adelaide's two-ruck model is back on the agenda - by the need for height in attack. The prospect of Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams this weekend pairing as ruckmen-forwards is forced by injury, this time by concussion to key forward Todd Marshall.

Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett is backing the Lycett-Ladhams tandem for the round 14 clash with Gold Coast at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon that will mark Robbie Gray's 250th AFL milestone.

"That will be the most-likely outcome this week," Bassett said at Alberton on Monday. "Pete has been pretty good for us for a month. 'Scooter' was excellent for the first eight weeks of the year.

"They have worked well in tandem before and we think they can again."

Marshall must miss by the 12-day protocols for concussions after being subbed out during the opening minutes of Thursday night's 21-point loss to Geelong at Adelaide Oval. This splits the preferred three-tall model that has featured Marshall, All-Australian Charlie Dixon and novice Mitch Georgiades for most of this season.

Lycett is free of a four-game, five-week ban from the AFL tribunal - for rough conduct with his tackle on Adelaide forward Ned McHenry during the Showdown victory in round 8.

Selection will be complicated by Port Adelaide's injury list that is still carrying the names of midfielders Xavier Duursma (knee) and Zak Butters (knee and ankle), defender Tom Clurey (jaw) and specialist goalkicker Orazio Fantasia (knee).

"And we only had seven AFL-listed players in the SANFL at the weekend," Bassett said. "We are not super deep this week. Most of the guys (on the injury list) are two weeks away - Duursma, Fantasia ...

"We are still a little bit away from getting numbers back. But to have Scott Lycett back this week is good."

Port Adelaide's next month of fixtures features an equal mix of top-eight and bottom-10 challenges - 15th-placed Gold Coast at Gold Coast, sixth-ranked Sydney at Adelaide Oval followed by non-finalist Hawthorn (away) and league leader Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

This will continue the external analysis of Port Adelaide's form that is judged along a 7-0 split against bottom-10 clubs and a 1-5 count with top-eight rivals.

Not surprising is the gap noted in the key performance statistics, such as scores conceded - usually defined as winning and losing form. Geelong was the second team this season to break the 100-point barrier against Port Adelaide, scoring 112 points - four more than fellow top-eight side West Coast in round 3.

"It would be fair to say on this season's form that - right at the moment with the people we have - the top couple are better than us. We are certainly able to challenge (Geelong and the Bulldogs) - and those games have been strong and competitive for extended periods of the game, but not good enough to get the job done.

"The ladder is a fair reflection on who we are right now.

"The gap is three or four goals at the moment. There are some things we can definitely improve on from Thursday night. Until we do that, those teams will remain in front of us on the ladder."

Bassett is backing the current Port Adelaide squad saying the next step in chasing greatness at Alberton requires "improving the people we have in the team".

"We still have some real young people in the team who are genuine AFL learners," Bassett said. "So we are looking to improve them. 

"We continue to work on our team method and brand. And if we get some personnel back, that is a bonus.

"We have good solid depth throughout the team. But we are being challenged in all areas at the moment," added Bassett.

Geelong notably had superiority in making contests on Thursday night, gaining from intercept marks in defence and from an 18-9 advantage for marks inside-50s.

"We did a good job in changing the way (Geelong) play, but a bit of our ball use hurt us," Bassett said. "And then we got out-marked at both ends of the ground ..."

Port Adelaide returned to training at Alberton Oval on Monday free of the lockdown protocols demanded by SA Health after the clash with Geelong.

Key forward Charlie Dixon took his frustration from Thursday night's match - that led to multiple 50-metre penalties - to the review room at Alberton.

"We just watched the free kick in the second quarter in the ruck contest ... and he did bang my desk as he watched it again," Bassett said. "So my desk is now recovering from that.

"He is an emotional man," Bassett added. "The positive is his actions in the way he played were very good. But it is unusual to give away 50-metre penalties like he did.

"He has been improving. If he is going to be emotional, be emotional and be good. It shows you are caring for the team. I am okay with that."

The main training session for the week will be on Tuesday.