TOM JONAS will captain Port Adelaide on Saturday in the absence of the Power's usual captain and vice-captains.
With Travis Boak, Brad Ebert and Matthew Lobbe being rested, and Hamish Hartlett spending the weekend on the sidelines, Ken Hinkley has thrown the captaincy to young leader Jonas.
After an encouraging pre-season on the track, Hinkley said the chance to give Jonas the senior leadership role against the Swans in the Power's opening NAB Challenge game will help him develop further.
"It's just an opportunity for someone else to experience that role and his own personal summer has been exciting and hopefully tomorrow will be an opportunity to build on what he's done, in leadership," Hinkley said.
The omission of a crop of key talent has meant the Power will field one of its least experienced sides on Saturday.
A forward line devoid of the usual firepower supplied by Justin Westhoff, Jay Schulz, Robbie Gray and new key forward Charlie Dixon will test a young attack against the well-rounded Swans.
Hinkley says the decision to hold over senior players will ensure the Power's best preparation for Round 1.
"It's management, you listen to everyone talk about the NAB Cup - it's about game time, minutes, and that's exactly what we're trying to do - preparing our team best for Round 1," Hinkley said.
"Two out of my last three years we've done exactly this way ... we're following a way that we think is proven and works."
"We'll play them [the players] in two out of three games, and a guy like Tom Jonas ... might not play in the next two games, but he'll get enough minutes to make sure he's ready for Round 1."
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