PORT Adelaide's widely acclaimed trade deal which lured Aliir Aliir to the AFL club could take another twist this weekend.
The Power ultimately gave up just a future second-round pick to Sydney in exchange for Aliir.
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But that trade only eventuated after Port refused to entertain the Swans' desire for the Power's untested ruckman Sam Hayes to be part of the deal.
Hayes, pick 47 at the 2017 draft, is yet to play an AFL game in his four years at Alberton.
But that could change this weekend when third-place Port host second-place Western Bulldogs, with 21-year-old jostling with Peter Ladhams to replace first-choice ruck Scott Lycett.
Lycett's four-game suspension for a sling tackle which concussed Adelaide's Ned McHenry opens the selection door for Hayes, who now weighs an imposing 102kg to go with his 205cm height.
"I'm sure he knows he's close," Port defender Tom Clurey told reporters on Thursday.
"And obviously there is opportunity there with Scoop (Lycett) being out for four weeks.
"I am sure he will be cracking in at training today and over the next few weeks doing everything he can.
"He is just a big, tall man obviously, can take a good mark and is good in the ruck.
"He has come on heaps over the last 12, 24 months. He is pretty much AFL ready now, which is exciting."
Hayes has been averaging 33 hitouts a game in the SANFL this season and Power hierarchy are bullish about the prospects of the Victorian-born ruck, who in January signed a contract extension to remain at Alberton to the end of 2023.
