A long-established AFL coach once argued his players should not be inspired to play better in milestone games; they should always be at 100 per cent.

But even the most devoted Port Adelaide player would find that extra motivation to honour Robbie Gray this weekend.

The No.55 call at the 2006 AFL national draft reaches his 250-game AFL milestone, 14 years after he made his big league start with a 13-touch outing against Hawthorn in round 10, 2007 at Football Park.

Gray's milestone will be against a club that was not even on the AFL national expansion whiteboard in 2007 - Gold Coast.

After earning three club champion John Cahill Medals, five Showdown Medals, topping the Port Adelaide goalkicking list twice and four All-Australian honours, Gray commands exalted status at Alberton - and merits driving extra motivation from his team-mates to deliver more than a routine "100 per cent" game this weekend.

"Robbie is a star of the competition," Port Adelaide defender-midfielder Dan Houston said. "Definitely (there is more to give) when you think of the games Robbie has won for us and what he has done for the club.

"As players we want to give back to him and make sure it is a memorable game for him."

Port Adelaide (8-4, ranked fifth and out of the top four by percentage) will honour Gray as the fifth player to reach the 250-game AFL milestone at Alberton after Kane Cornes (300 games), Travis Boak (294), Justin Westhoff (280) and Warren Tredrea (255).

Houston has his personal connection with Gray by following his path from Victoria to the Port Adelaide Football Club via the AFL draft.

"I had a little bit to do with him at the start of my career being an Oakleigh Chargers boy as well as he was," Houston said. "He has really invested in the youth at the club (as a mentor) to Zak Butters, Dylan Williams and even the recruiting of some. He is a really important part of that area of the club and the young players coming through at the moment."

While Gray will mark his 250th AFL game on the Gold Coast, 24-year-old Houston will play his 89th with the question: Is he now a midfielder or still a defender?

"I think I am still working that out myself a little bit," Houston said. "I have played a little bit of both and I am still trying to find my feet in the back line at the moment and then push into the midfield in the weeks to come."

Port Adelaide's defence conceded its highest score of the season and more than 100 points for the second time this year during the 21-point loss to Geelong at Adelaide Oval last Thursday.

"As a team we did not defend as well as we like, but they had some keys forward (Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan) who tested us out a little bit," Houston said. "They hit the scoreboard and we take that as a team (not just as a defence unit)."

Port Adelaide returns to the Gold Coast for the first time this season after playing six matches at Metricon Stadium last year during the COVID-forced hubs and relocation of matches from Melbourne.

This weekend will mark Port Adelaide's 12th AFL match at Carrara where there have been six matches against Gold Coast - for a 6-0 win-loss count.

Port Adelaide has won its past 11 matches against Gold Coast.

The encounter with a non-finalist will not in victory change the external perceptions on Port Adelaide's top-four credentials, but the tasks before the players remain the same regardless of the opponent.

"We want to work on the contest (side of the game)," Houston said. "We think that is our key backbone to our game. And that is what we will be working on.

"We want to see our ball movement and hitting the scoreboard be our pass mark - strong at the contest and then being able to hit the scoreboard and move the ball inside-50 really well.

"We looked at it during the week (in response to the loss to Geelong) and identified the contest is where we need to find our biggest improvement. Our turnovers (against Geelong) and a little bit of centre bounce killed us a bit.

"So we are working on it week to week, but we think our contest is our biggest (area for) improvement and then being able to tighten up on our skills throughout games.

"At the moment, you would have every right to say we don't (stand up as a top-four side). But going forward there is still the best part of 10-11 rounds to work into." 

The match 22 and emergencies - from which the medical substitute will come - are to be named on Thursday night with one forced change and one obvious replacement. Ruckman Scott Lycett will come off the AFL suspension list to replace key forward Todd Marshall who is sidelined by the 12-day concussion protocols. This would re-establish the two-ruck tandem with Lycett and Peter Ladhams covering Marshall in the three-talls forward tandem with Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades.

"There will be versatility in the ruck and that adds to Pete Ladhams' role whe he pushes forward," Houston said of this combination. "With Marshall out, 'Pistol' (Ladhams) will have to balance that ruck-forward combo.

"Scott's return to ruck enables Pete to go forward a little bit - and he adds experience in ruck and has a good connection with the midfielders. They love having Scott in the ruck."

Defender Ryan Burton took a high knock to his shoulder at training at Alberton Oval on Thursday morning but is not injured from the hit.

"Talking to Ryan in the changerooms, it was just a stinger and he will be right for this week," Houston said.

For the record, Port Adelaide won in Gray's 50th game (a Showdown in 2011), won in his 100th (against Melbourne in 2014), lost his 150th (against Greater Western Sydney)  and won his 200th (against Melbourne in 2019).

Port Adelaide will travel to Gold Coast on Friday morning. The match begins at 1.15pm (ACST) on Saturday.